Pine marten project seeks support to double donations

A pioneering wildlife project is calling for public support to help expand its efforts to reintroduce the pine marten to Dartmoor and Exmoor.

Following the successful release of 15 pine martens into Dartmoor woodlands in September, the Two Moors Pine Marten Project is now aiming to double its support through a special fundraising opportunity.

The animals, which were brought from healthy populations in Scotland, made headlines worldwide, with reports reaching as far as Australia and North America. 

The reintroduction is a collaborative effort between Dartmoor National Park Authority, Devon Wildlife Trust, Exmoor National Park Authority, Forestry England, the National Trust, Somerset Wildlife Trust, and the Woodland Trust.

Since the release, the project has been monitoring the animals' movements through GPS and VHF collars, while more than 80 local volunteers have dedicated over 1,800 hours to supporting the initiative. 

Tasks have included building den boxes and tracking the pine martens’ progress.

Tracey Hamston, the Project Lead for the Two Moors Pine Marten Project at Devon Wildlife Trust, expressed excitement over the progress: “We’re really pleased with the pine martens’ progress since their releases in September. Over the past weeks, the project has been keeping track of their movements. Some individuals have been more elusive than others, but this is to be expected as pine martens are solitary and secretive animals which live at low densities spread out across large areas. However, we’re confident that the animals are now busy exploring the woods of Devon.”

As part of the next stage of the project, the team is focusing on improving woodland habitats and installing den boxes, which will also serve as maternity dens when the female pine martens give birth next March. 

These will be the first pine martens to be born in Devon for over a century.

With funding from the Big Give Christmas Challenge, donations will be doubled, making this a key opportunity to support the project. 

Donations are opened on midday on Tuesday 3 December to midday on Tuesday 10 December. Contributions will go towards providing volunteers with essential resources, continuing to engage with local communities, and preparing for the next stage of the reintroduction.

“We’re really excited about the Big Give Christmas Challenge,” said Hamston. 

“Every pound raised will be matched, so your donation will go twice as far. This funding will help us improve habitats, engage with local communities, and support the reintroduction of pine martens back to our woodlands.”

Looking ahead to 2025, the project plans a similar release on Exmoor. 

Ali North, the project’s Field Officer for Exmoor, said, “Next year promises to be an exciting one as we coordinate the project’s second release of animals. We’ll be continuing to engage with local partners on Exmoor, listening to their views and ideas around pine marten reintroduction.”

For more information or to donate, visit www.devonwildlifetrust.org or www.twomoorspinemartens.org.