National Pine Marten Monitoring Programme
Bringing together pine marten records
About the programme
The National Pine Marten Monitoring Programme (NPMMP) brings together pine marten records from across Britain to support the conservation and recovery of the species.
It combines data collected through monitoring by volunteers and professionals, sightings reported by the public to Vincent Wildlife Trust (VWT), and records shared by partner organisations, including Local Environmental Record Centres.
All data is collated through a GIS-based system, helping to build a national picture of pine marten distribution.
Supporting pine marten recovery
Pine martens are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act (1981), so monitoring must not disturb them. The den site of a pine marten is also protected from disturbance and pine marten den boxes should only be monitored by individuals following the guidance set out in the Pine Marten Den Box Monitoring Guide.
The programme collects data from non-invasive monitoring such as trail camera records at bait stations and den boxes, along with pine marten scats that have been verified through DNA testing. This work provides valuable evidence of where pine martens are present, if they are breeding and how the species is expanding into new areas.
By bringing this information together, conservationists can track recovery across Britain, target conservation action more effectively, and make the best use of limited resources.
Contribute your data
You can submit a range of monitoring data, including:
- Trail camera records at den boxes
- Trail camera records at baited and non-baited monitoring stations
- Pine marten scats (only those confirmed through DNA are included in Marten Map)
If you have an incidental sighting of a pine marten to report, please let us know.
To share your monitoring data and become a contributor to the National Pine Marten Monitoring Programme, email enquiries@vwt.org.uk
Learn how to take part in the National Pine Marten Monitoring Programme and contribute your data to MartenMap.
Watch the video for a quick overview of how Marten Map works, why your monitoring data matters, and how it supports pine marten conservation across Britain.
Download the guide 'Marten Map National Pine Marten Monitoring Programme — an introduction' for a detailed explanation of the programme and step‑by‑step instructions for submitting your records.
Learn how to record and submit your pine marten monitoring data using the Survey123 online form.
Watch the video to see how to enter your pine marten monitoring data. Featuring real den box monitoring videos, it walks you through how to interpret your trail camera footage and submit your data to Marten Map.
Download the 'Marten Map Data Submission User Guide' for clear, step‑by‑step instructions on submitting your data.
The Terms of Use explain how VWT manages, uses and shares data submitted to the National Pine Marten Monitoring Programme.
Download National Pine Marten Monitoring Programme Terms of Use to understand how your data will be stored, used and made available.
Marten Map brings together records from across Britain to show the distribution and recovery of the pine marten. It is the main output of the National Pine Marten Monitoring Programme (NPMMP), combining data from a wide range of sources into a single, accessible national resource.
Learn more about Marten Map
Are you monitoring a den box or bait station?
Contribute your monitoring data to the National Pine Marten Monitoring Programme and get your martens on the map!
Photo: ©David Baird
Together we can make a difference
