Six months into Martens on the Move
I can’t believe it’s already been half a year since I started as the Communications and Engagement Officer for the Martens on the Move project. With a spring and summer jam-packed with engagement events, visiting our partner organisations across the UK and den box installations (amongst a lot of other things) it has flown by. Choosing only a couple of highlights from the past few months has been quite difficult, but I’ve given it a go!
• Checking den boxes in Galloway Forest
In May 2024, Martens on the Move joined the Dumfries and Galloway Pine Marten Group to check 140 pine marten den boxes in Galloway Forest. Volunteers monitor these den boxes every year to determine which ones are being used by pine martens for breeding.
Each den box is checked (from a distance) using a thermal imaging camera to determine if an animal is inside. If the camera gives a positive heat signature, a trail camera is carefully installed (at least five metres from the den box) to determine if it is a marten in the box — hopefully a mother with babies. Volunteers then quietly walk away, leaving the animals in peace. If there is no positive heat signature, volunteers look for other signs of martens, such as poo (scat) on the forest floor or box lid and claw marks on the branches.
Over three days and with twelve volunteers split into smaller groups, we drove across Galloway Forest in the search of pine martens. The species has used several of these boxes in the past and it was exciting to think that the next box we checked could have one (or more) in it. I was lucky enough to find and record a handful of boxes that gave positive signs of pine martens. Looking through the thermal imaging camera and standing more than five metres away (the required distance set out for this species under the Wildlife and Countryside Act, 1988), this was the closest I have ever come to a pine marten.
• Monmouth Pride
We’ve had a busy few months of community events with Martens on the Move, engaging with more than 650 people in the summer alone. One standout event for me was taking part in Monmouth Pride – the town’s first ever Pride celebration! Queering the Wye, a project that supports young LGBTQ+ people from across the Wye Valley and helps them reconnect with nature, invited us to join in on this celebration. The day included a parade down Monmouth’s streets, live entertainment and a variety of arts and crafts. Throughout the day, we engaged with several people about the Martens on the Move project as part of the past, present and future of pine martens in Monmouthshire.
Martens on the Move will also work with Queering the Wye to offer opportunities for young people to help restore habitats for pine martens.
• The Wildlife Trusts ‘Stand for Nature Wales Youth Summit’
In August, the North Wales Wildlife Trust invited us to take part in another event, which was the Stand for Nature Wales Youth Summit. Stand for Nature Wales is a project that brings together young people from across Wales and empowers them to take action for nature. The event took place in Cardiff and included Youth Forums from:
• North Wales Wildlife Trust
• Montgomeryshire Wildlife Trust
• Radnorshire Wildlife Trust
• Gwent Wildlife Trust
• The Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales
On the first day of the Summit, Katherine Morley (VWT Carnivore Conservation Officer) and Lucy Nord (Martens on the Move Project Officer - Welsh/English border) gave a presentation on the project and the wonderful world of pine martens. The next day, we took part in the Project Fair to discuss volunteering opportunities and how to get involved in conservation. The Youth Forums also had their own stalls to display the work they have accomplished throughout the Stand for Nature Wales project. It was fantastic to speak to so many young people committed to wildlife conservation and taking action to protect it!
• Visiting all the Pine Marten Haven Sites
As part of Martens on the Move, we are collaborating with partners across Scotland, Wales and England to create three Pine Marten Haven Sites. These include new wildlife hides along with digital trails and accessible nature trails, all focusing on pine martens and how they benefit the wider environment. When I first started at VWT, this part of the project seemed quite daunting, but as I’ve visited each site, discovered how each one is special and met the amazing teams behind them, it has quickly become one of my favourite parts of the job.
The Pine Marten Haven Sites are at:
Kirroughtree Visitor Centre in Dumfries and Galloway, in partnership with Forestry and Land Scotland. Kirroughtree is in Galloway Forest Park, which is sustainably managed for harvesting timber. The visitor centre is considered the ‘gateway’ to the wider forest and shows how commercial forestry can support pine martens and other wildlife.
Wentwood Forest in southeast Wales, in partnership with Coed Cadw, Woodland Trust. This is the largest ancient woodland in Wales and during WWII it was heavily harvested for resources. Since then, there has been habitat improvement happening across Wentwood Forest. The area shows how a large-scale Plantation of Ancient Woodland Site (PAWS) restoration project can also help woodland wildlife.
Wallington in Northumberland, in partnership with the National Trust. The Wallington Estate covers 13,500-acres and comprises a large country house built in 1688, a hidden walled garden, lakes, woodlands and farmland. This PIne Marten Haven Site is an excellent example of how to manage a rural, multi-use landscape to benefit pine martens.
These Pine Marten Haven Sites will launch in Summer 2025... watch this space for news of the launch events!
It certainly has been a busy six months and when I look back on everything I have done and learnt so far, I cannot wait to see what the next few years of the Martens on the Move project has in store!
Martens on the Move is made possible with The National Lottery Heritage Fund. Thanks to the National Lottery players, we are able to create opportunities to increase knowledge and understanding of pine martens and to improve habitats for the species across the UK.