A Northumberland National Trust site has been selected as a "haven" site in a bid to help a rare mammal recover and return to its former reaches after it was thought to be extinct.
Pine martens, an elusive cat-sized mammal, has already been clocked at Kielder Forest, where a new denning project started in 2022. Now, the Vincent Trust project named "Martens on the Move" has received £1.2 million of funding to work with local organisations and communities to help the rare mammals thrive once again in woodlands across Britain, with Wallington in Northumberland one of three "key recovery areas".
The new four-year funding will involve the project building on the initial connections made with partners, landowners, local communities and young people. It is hoped that funding will now enable further engagement with new groups to improve habitats for pine martens, recruit and train volunteers to monitor pine martens as they move into new areas, and provide opportunities for communities to find out more about the species and their potential to play a role in its survival.
- Read more: One of Britain's rarest mammals now locally extinct from Northumberland after 70% decline across UK since 2000
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Pine martens are considered critically endangered in England and Wales and its range in Scotland is still limited. The 5,321 hectare Wallington Estate, managed by the National Trust, has already overseen the reintroduction of another mammal this year - with beavers released into Northumberland for the first time in 400 years.
Paul Hewitt, countryside manager at Wallington, said: "This critically endangered animal has been lost from swathes of our countryside for so long – so it’s fantastic news that this project has been awarded funding to both raise the profile of the pine marten and work towards its recovery across the country. We’re delighted that Wallington has been selected as the haven site for England.
"This work forms part of the Wilder Wallington project, which is helping nature recovery at a landscape scale and we’re really looking forward to more people being able to experience the excitement of seeing this beautiful native species in our woods here at Wallington again."
Robin Llewellyn, director, England, Midlands & East at the National Lottery Heritage Fund, said: "At this pivotal moment for pine marten conservation, I'm delighted that The National Lottery Heritage Fund continues to support The Vincent Wildlife Trust. It’s inspiring to see the Trust working alongside partners and communities, enhancing public awareness, habitat resources, and population data collection, made possible thanks to National Lottery players."
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