Working in partnership Pine Marten Havens
Pine Marten Haven launch dates are announced
Martens on the Move has been working hard with four national partners to develop Pine Marten Havens in Scotland, England and Wales where people can visit woodlands and learn about these incredible animals and how we can improve woodland habitats to help pine martens thrive once again.
The first Haven to be launched is at Kirroughtree in partnership with Forestry and Land Scotland (FLS) on Saturday 5 July from 12.30pm.
This will be followed by the Haven launch at Wallington in partnership with National Trust on Saturday 19 July from 12.30pm and then at Wentwood in partnership with Woodland Trust Wales and Natural Resources Wales on Saturday 6 September from 12.30pm.
At each of the three Haven launches, there will be activities for children and free guided walks taking in the new nature trail information boards and a visit to the new wildlife hide. These will take place at:
- 12.30pm
- 1.30pm
- 2.30pm
Please click on your nearest Haven site below to book a free guided walk.
• Kirroughtree in Scotland — Galloway Forest in Dumfries and Galloway, owned by Scottish Ministers on behalf of the people of Scotland and managed by Forestry and Land Scotland;
• Wentwood in Wales — Monmouthshire, owned and managed by Coed Cadw, The Woodland Trust in Wales and Natural Resources Wales;
• Wallington in England — Northumberland, owned and managed by the National Trust.
Pine Marten Haven Woodland Sites
For thousands of years following the last Ice Age, most of Britain was covered in trees and woodlands. These woodlands were home to more wildlife than any other habitat.
Ancient woodlands now only cover around 2.5% of Britain and many of those remaining are in poor condition. Our Pine Marten Haven sites will demonstrate how we can improve the diversity of woodlands, not just for pine martens but for all wildlife, by making sure they contain a diversity of plants, shrubs and trees. These in turn will provide food and shelter for a greater variety and number of our native animals... which will also thrive alongside the pine martens.
Kirroughtree is located in the south of Galloway Forest Park, Britain's largest forest that covers 300 square miles across Dumfries and Galloway. The forest is owned by Scottish Ministers on behalf of the people of Scotland and managed by Forestry and Land Scotland (FLS).
Galloway forest is full of wildlife, including ospreys, red deer and red squirrels, and has a variety of walking trails for everyone to enjoy. Kirroughtree Visitor Centre is considered the ‘gateway’ to the wider Galloway Forest and there is a café and bike shop onsite. The forest is sustainably managed for harvesting timber used as building materials for housing, furniture and to make paper.
Kirroughtree is the perfect place in this area for Martens on the Move to share the pine marten story as pine martens were reintroduced into Galloway Forest Park in the early 1980s with den box installations starting in the forest in 2003. Since then, this pine marten population has slowly been growing and moving into the surrounding landscape.
Pine Marten Haven Launch
Join us on Saturday 5 July from 12.30 and find out more about our partnership with Forestry and Land Scotland to help pine martens thrive. Book here to join a free guided walk. NB advance booking is optional. Walk-ins are welcome on the day but please arrive early as spaces are limited.
Located in southeast Wales, Wentwood Forest is part of what was the largest ancient woodland in Wales but is now a Plantation on Ancient Woodland Site (PAWS). The woodland is now managed by both Coed Cadw and Natural Resources Wales.
Our wildlife hide and nature trail will be created on Coed Cadw land and our digital trail will be created on the adjacent land managed by Natural Resources Wales.
The woodland has historically been exploited for grazing and timber production and, during World War II, the majority of Wentwood’s native broadleaf trees were felled to provide resources for the ongoing war effort. Since then, the site has been planted mostly with non-native commercial tree species, making it a Plantation on Ancient Woodland Site (PAWS).
The woodland is home to 70 different species of birds. In the spring, it is known for its blanket of bluebells, while in the autumn colourful fungi are plentiful.
There are also Bronze Age Burial sites located in Wentwood Forest. These are thought to be more than 3,000 years old... and could have been created at a time when pine martens were more abundant across Britain.
Pine Marten Haven Launch
Join us on Saturday 6 September from 12.30 and find out more about our partnership with Forestry and Land Scotland to help pine martens thrive. Book here to join a free guided walk. NB advance booking is optional. Walk-ins are welcome on the day but please arrive early as spaces are limited.
Located northwest of Newcastle, Wallington is owned and managed by the National Trust. The 5,321 hectare estate is the largest intact estate owned by the National Trust and includes a large country house built in 1688, a hidden walled garden, lakes, wonderful woodlands and farmland.
There are a number of conservation management projects taking place at Wallington that focus on native species, including controlling grey squirrels to support the red squirrel population; providing refuge areas for white-clawed crayfish; and beaver reintroductions.
Martens on the Move will be supporting the National Trust team to deliver the ‘Wilder Wallington’ project that aims to turn Wallington into a place that works for people and nature, including making 'wildlife habitats bigger, better and more joined up'. This landscape-scale approach to nature conservation is crucial for healthy and sustainable ecosystems.
Pine Marten Haven Launch
Join us on Saturday 19 July from 12.30 and find out more about our partnership with Forestry and Land Scotland to help pine martens thrive. Book here to join a free guided walk. NB Booking is essential at Wallington.
Our partner sites
Dr Stephanie Johnstone, Martens on the Move Project Manager, said, “We are so excited to be working in collaboration with our four Pine Marten Haven partners. It means that we can offer so many more opportunities for people to learn about pine martens and how they can support their recovery. It also means that local community groups can get involved in hands-on habitat improvement work and monitoring in this joined up approach to pine marten conservation.”