£1.2m project to boost woodlands with pine marten
Local community engagement project aims to reintroduce a ‘missing piece in the woodland food chain’
CONSERVATIONISTS have received a National Lottery Heritage Fund grant of £1.2 million to help boost the recovery of South West woodlands through the reintroduction of a lost native animal: the pine marten.
‘Pine Martens Bounce Back: The Two Moors Pine Marten Project’ is centred on Dartmoor and Exmoor.
Made possible by money raised by National Lottery players, the project focuses on the reintroduction of pine martens to the region after an absence of 150 years. Alongside the animal’s return will be an ambitious programme of community activities which aims to engage thousands of people in exploring, learning about and caring for the region’s woodlands.
The project is led by the Devon Wildlife Trust charity in partnership with other conservation organisations: Dartmoor National Park Authority, Exmoor National Park Authority, Forestry England, National Trust, Somerset Wildlife Trust and Woodland Trust.
Around 40 pine martens are expected be released over the next two years at selected locations on Dartmoor and Exmoor. The pine martens will come under licence from existing healthy populations in Scotland.
The animal’s return will signal the start of an ambitious community engagement project. Over three years, thousands of people will support the return of this missing piece of our woodland community and help restore the region’s woodlands. Hundreds of opportunities will be made available to people across the South West drawn from diverse backgrounds, to include:
Woodland and hedgerow creation and restoration activities;
Citizen scientist and nature spotter opportunities – monitoring pine marten behaviour and other wildlife;
■ Woodland-themed, nature-based activities and events in communities local to pine marten release sites;
■ Small grants for community-based projects to help nurture local wildlife;
■ A free digital download pack focused on pine martens and woodlands, with wildlife spotter sheets, self-guided discovery trails and craft activities.
The project also has a strong focus on creating pathways for young people to get involved in conservation.
Ed Parr Ferris, Devon Wildlife Trust’s conservation manager, said the return of pine martens will follow successful reintroductions in the Forest of Dean and Wales.
“Like the rest of our countryside, our region’s woodlands have seen a recent decline in the community of wildlife they support. This makes the prospect of bringing back an animal which was once a common part of that community so exciting. This project will ensure that people from lots of different backgrounds are able to play a part in the return of pine martens and to celebrate our region’s wonderful woodlands.”
Alex Raeder, South West landscapes partnerships manager at the National Trust, said the project will bring back a “beautiful and charismatic animal” lost from local woodlands since the 19th century. He added: “We hope this will inspire a wide range of people in nature restoration and we will be creating lots of opportunities for participation in projects like citizen science as part of our strategy for a restored and nature rich countryside in the South West of England.”
Eleanor Lewis, Woodland Trust’s South West outreach manager, said: “We know that our woods need to be in better condition to allow the ecosystem to function at its best. Introducing pine martens will support that, they are a missing piece in the woodland food chain, but we also look forward to working with the project advisers, who will be liaising with landowners, to explore ways that woodlands and hedges within the Two Moors are managed to encourage the conditions to support our wildlife, including the pine marten.”
Stuart McLeod, National Lottery Heritage Fund, said: “This is an important initiative that fits with our ambition to help habitats and species thrive, reducing and mitigating the impacts of climate change, while helping people connect to our unique natural heritage.”