Working in partnership Pine Marten Havens
Pine Marten Havens — nature trails, wildlife hides and habitat restoration.
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. Each Haven site celebrates all things pine marten with new wildlife hides, engaging information boards and life-sized pine marten silhouettes hiding in the forest waiting to be spotted!
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 demonstrate how we can improve our woodlands, not just for pine martens but for all wildlife. Healthy and diverse woodlands provide food and shelter for a greater variety and number of our native animals... which will thrive alongside the pine martens.
To find out more about our ambitious plans for these Pine Marten Havens, please check out this blog by Dr Stephanie Johnstone, Martens on the Move Project Manager.
Banner photo: ©Rowie Burcham
Visit a Pine Marten Haven Site
Wentwood in Wales – with Coed Cadw and Natural Resources Wales
Kirroughtree in Scotland – with Forestry and Land Scotland
Wallington in England – with National Trust
Located near Newport in southeast Wales, Wentwood Forest is part of what was the largest ancient woodland in Wales. The woodland is now a Plantation on Ancient Woodland Site (PAWS) managed by both Coed Cadw and Natural Resources Wales.
Located in Wentwood Forest near Newport, the Wentwood Pine Marten Haven is a special place where visitors can learn about pine martens while enjoying a peaceful walk through the largest woodland in Wales.
The Haven has been created through a partnership between Vincent Wildlife Trust, Coed Cadw (the Woodland Trust in Wales) and Natural Resources Wales, with thanks to funding from The National Lottery Heritage Fund. As a Plantation on Ancient Woodland Site (PAWS), it is now under active management to restore native woodland habitat.
It features a dedicated wildlife viewing hide, information boards along a nature trail and pine marten silhouettes hiding in the trees.
Pine Marten Haven Nature Trail
The Wentwood Pine Marten Haven Nature Trail is a peaceful (0.9 miles / 1.4 kilometres) circular woodland walk that introduces visitors to the Haven and its surrounding landscape.
Highlights include:
- Wildlife viewing hide
- Pine marten information boards
- Bronze Age burial site (over 3,000 years old)
- Viewpoint looking out towards the Bristol Channel
Wentwood Forest is also home to around 70 species of bird, spring bluebells, and colourful autumn fungi.
Navigate your way around Wentwood with our easy-to-use Google map. Perfect for planning your walk before you arrive. Access the Wentwood Pine Marten Haven Map
How to get to Wentwood Pine Marten Haven
Location
Wentwood Forest is located near Newport in south‑east Wales.
Address:
Foresters’ Oaks Car Park
Usk Road
Monmouthshire
NP16 6LZ
By car: From Newport, take the A48 towards Llanfair Discoed, then turn onto Usk Road. After approximately three miles, pass Wentwood Reservoir - the Foresters’ Oaks Car Park is on the left.
Facilities and access
Mobile phone signal in Wentwood Forest is unreliable.
Accessibility
Accessibility for the Pine Marten Haven Nature Trail (starting from Foresters’ Oaks Car Park).
Using the Slow Ways National Walking Network grading system:
- Path surface grade: 3 – rough surfaces including loose gravel, shallow ruts and occasional muddy sections
- Route access grade: Y – step, stile and barrier free; should be accessible to all wheelchairs and mobility scooters
Parking
Free parking. The car park is managed by Newport City Council.
Address: Foresters’ Oaks Car Park, NP16 6LZ
- what3words: ///rigid.pampering.blacked
- One EV charging point
- Height barrier: 2.1 metres
- No dedicated disabled or parent bays
Opening Times
Wentwood Forest is open 24 hours a day, all year round.
Pine Marten Haven Trail details
Distance: approximately 0.9 miles / 1.4 kilometres
Route: circular
Terrain: some uneven ground with gradual inclines
Start: To access the Pine Marten Haven Nature Trail on foot, exit the car park, return to the entrance on Usk Road, carefully cross the road and join the path directly ahead. Waymarkers will guide you along the trail.
Toilets
There are no toilet or refreshment facilities on site. The nearest facilities are in Usk, approximately 6 miles away.
Public toilets in and near Usk:
- Usk Community Hub, 35 Maryport Street, Usk, NP15 1AE. Open Monday, Wednesday and Thursday 9am–5pm; Saturday 9am–12:45pm.
- Maryport Street North, Maryport Street, Usk, NP15. Open 24 hours.
- Usk Island, Pontypool Road, Usk, NP15 1SY. Open daily 8am–5pm.
More information about Wentwood
Visit Coed Cadw (the Woodland Trust in Wales) website to find out more about Wentwood.
Kirroughtree is located in the south of Galloway Forest Park, Britain's largest forest covering 300 square miles in 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).
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.
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.
Visit Forestry and Land Scotland's website to plan your visit to our Kirroughtree Pine Marten Haven.
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.
Visit National Trust's website to plan your visit to our English Pine Marten Haven.
Our project partners
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.”
Developing Pine Marten Havens
Thanks to National Lottery players, the National Lottery Heritage Fund is the largest funder for UK heritage and people. Its vision is for heritage to be valued, cared for and sustained for everyone.
Forestry and Land Scotland looks after national forests and land to enhance biodiversity, support tourism and increase access to the green spaces for the benefit of all, now and for the future.
The National Trust's goals for the future are to restore nature everywhere; to end unequal access to nature, beauty and history; to inspire millions more people to care and take action.
Coed Cadw plants trees and campaigns for better protection for woodlands and trees across the country. It looks after more than 100 woods for people to explore.
Natural Resources Wales is the largest Welsh Government sponsored body, focused on tackling the climate, nature and pollution emergencies. It works to protect and enhance Wales’ environments.