National Highways backs efforts to protect pine martens on Devon’s roads

National Highways is joining forces with the Devon Wildlife Trust, the Two Moors Pine Marten Project, and Devon County Council to make Devon’s roads safer for pine martens, a species recently reintroduced to the region after more than a century.

Last September, 15 pine martens were released in eastern Dartmoor as part of the Two Moors Pine Marten Project. Since then, the animals have dispersed across South Devon, including the Haldon Forest area. With pine martens known to travel long distances through the landscape, road crossings have become a major risk, making traffic collisions one of the greatest threats to the species’ survival in the UK.

To better understand their movements, cameras have been installed at key points along the A38 and A380. Conservationists are using the footage to monitor crossing patterns while urging drivers to stay alert, particularly near Haldon Forest.

The project has already seen early success. Footage captured by the Devon Wildlife Trust confirmed the first births of pine marten kits in the region - a milestone for a species that had been absent from the South West for over 100 years. However, recent road fatalities have highlighted the urgency of the initiative.

“While roads have always connected people and places, they are too often a barrier for nature, severing habitats and contributing to the decline in biodiversity,” said Ben Hewlett, National Highways’ Senior Environmental Advisor. “And to assist our conservation partners in Devon, we are working with them to identify any movement patterns of the recently released pine marten population, which could help pinpoint any mitigations needed in the long term.”

The Two Moors Pine Marten Project is a collaboration between several organisations, including Dartmoor and Exmoor National Park Authorities, Forestry England, and the National Trust, with support from the National Lottery Heritage Fund. A second release of pine martens is planned in Exmoor this autumn.

Pine martens play a critical role in woodland ecosystems by controlling common prey species and creating space for rarer species to thrive. However, with modern road networks built during their long absence, finding safe ways for the animals to move across the landscape has become essential.

Ed Parr Ferris, Conservation Manager for the Devon Wildlife Trust, said: “Pine martens returning to the South West is an exciting demonstration of how we can reverse nature’s decline. But we have altered our landscapes tremendously and we need to keep finding solutions to give wildlife the ability to thrive.”

Devon County Council is also playing a key role. Councillor Jacqi Hodgson, Cabinet Member for Climate Change and Biodiversity, said: “The return of pine martens to Devon through the Two Moors Project is a major step forward in restoring our native wildlife and ecosystems. Making the A380 and all of our road network across Devon safer for wildlife is vital not only for the long-term recovery of pine martens, but for many other species, including the much-loved native red squirrels as well.”

The pine marten project forms part of a broader initiative by National Highways to improve biodiversity and create wildlife-friendly infrastructure. In the South West, this includes the creation of multi-species animal crossings, fish passes, wildflower corridors, and even a green bridge for wildlife as part of the A30 dualling scheme in Cornwall.

For more information about the Two Moors Pine Marten Project, visit www.devonwildlifetrust.org