Pine Martens return to the South West after a century-long absence

In a historic move, pine martens have been reintroduced to the South West of England for the first time in over 100 years as part of a pioneering conservation project. 15 pine martens, including eight females and seven males, were released at undisclosed locations on Dartmoor in September, marking a significant milestone in efforts to restore the region's woodlands and wildlife.

The initiative, led by the Two Moors Pine Marten Project, is a collaboration between seven conservation organisations, including Devon Wildlife Trust, Dartmoor and Exmoor National Park Authorities, Forestry England, and the National Trust. The project is supported by The National Lottery Heritage Fund.

The return of these elusive creatures to Dartmoor marks the first phase of the project, with a second release planned for Exmoor in 2025. Pine martens, cat-sized members of the weasel family, became extinct in the region over a century ago due to habitat loss and hunting. The newly introduced animals were sourced from healthy wild populations in Scotland, carefully transported, and released under strict licensing from Natural England and NatureScot.

Arriving under cover of darkness, each pine marten was placed in a secluded pen where they were fed and monitored before being released into the wild. The project will closely track their movements using lightweight radio collars to ensure their successful acclimatisation. Conservationists hope the pine martens will disperse, establish territories, and gradually increase in population.

Ed Parr Ferris, Conservation Manager at Devon Wildlife Trust, said: “Pine martens are stunning members of the weasel family, about two foot long, weighing just 1.5 kilos, with their creamy-orange bibs contrasting against their smooth chocolate-coloured coat. They are amazingly well adapted for life in the woodland night, with strong claws, lithe bodies, fantastic hearing and even reversible rear ankles helping them to run down trees. These rare mammals need our help to return to their former homes in the South West, but we also need their help to bring back the natural balance of wildlife to our woodlands.”

The reintroduction is expected to have a positive impact on biodiversity in the region. Pine martens are known for their ability to control populations of other species, helping to restore natural processes that have been disrupted by human activity. It is welcomed by many who have seen a marked increase in grey squirrels over the past few years, who have been causing irreversible tree damage.

Emma Williams, Species Recovery Officer at Natural England, praised the project, stating that the return of pine martens would significantly boost Dartmoor’s biodiversity. She said: “Natural England has been working closely with the Two Moors Pine Marten project to contribute to the recovery of pine marten in England. This project has shown a great example of best practice, and the reintroduction of pine marten will have a positive impact on Dartmoor's biodiversity”.

Ketty White is Dartmoor National Park Authority Ecologist. Kerry said: “We have welcomed the opportunity to participate in this partnership project and, after significant research and consultation, are excited to reach the milestone of the first pine marten release. Ecological assessments have confirmed that areas across the Two Moors in the South West are suitable for reintroduction, and we are thrilled to support the first release of pine martens here on Dartmoor. Once common in our region’s woodlands, we look forward to these animals making Dartmoor their home and in turn supporting the rebalance of nature in our National Park.”

 Ali Hawkins is Exmoor National Park Authority’s Senior Ecologist. Ali commented: “We are delighted to see the first release of pine martens back into the South West on Dartmoor. It’s been an amazing partnership effort over a number of years to get to this point and we are excited that this will pave the way for a release on Exmoor next year. We have historical evidence that these amazing animals used to be in our Exmoor woodlands and their presence will help to re-address the ecological balance and drive forward nature recovery”.

Alex Raeder is South West Landscapes Partnership manager for the National Trust. Alex said: “The National Trust has been delighted to be involved in this reintroduction project from the outset and it’s wonderful to see the ambition of returning this beautiful animal to Dartmoor being realised. The whole project has been a really great example of many organisations and individuals working together to restore nature across a whole landscape which puts us in a good place for further collaboration on natures recovery in the National Park and elsewhere. We are looking forward to welcoming the return of the pine marten to Dartmoor which a significant step in restoring the ecology of these very special oak woodlands so characteristic of the ancient landscapes of the South West.”

 Eleanor Lewis is Outreach Manager for the Woodland Trust in the South West. Eleanor commented: “The whole project has been an amazing team effort and the Woodland Trust are delighted to have played a part in this momentous moment. The pens the animals were released into were built using timber which resulted from the restoration of ancient woodlands. It was milled on site by local contractors who then worked alongside our wonderful volunteers to build the pens. The volunteer’s focus will now turn to monitoring as the pine martens settle into their new woodland environment. Historically, the loss of woodland resulted in the decline of pine martens, so our focus will be upon working with landowners and providing advice and support on how woodlands can be managed and created to enhance the conditions for pine martens and ensuring they can play their vital role in our ecosystem that has been missing for so long.” 

In addition to conservation efforts, the project aims to engage local communities through citizen science initiatives, educational events, and woodland activities. There are also plans to support woodland owners in enhancing habitats for pine martens and other wildlife.

The Two Moors Pine Marten Project hopes to inspire public involvement in conservation while ensuring the long-term survival of the species in the South West. The release is part of a wider national effort to reintroduce pine martens, with successful populations already established in mid-Wales and the Forest of Dean.

For more information about the project, visit: www.twomoorspinemartens.org