A brief history

Pine martens were thought to once have been the second most common carnivore in Britain. Now they are the second rarest.

Around 11,600 to 6,000 years ago, a vast woodland covered most of Britain, and pine martens and other forest dwelling animals thrived. Our ancestors began clearing the forests of Britain around 5,000 to 6,000 years ago and since then many forest dwelling animals have been affected by habitat loss. 

By the beginning of the 20th century, woodland covered just 5% of Britain and with the additional impact of extensive hunting reducing numbers further, pine martens were largely restricted to the rocky northwest corner of Scotland.