European Rewilding Network

Restoring pine martens in Cumbria

Pine marten in release area
Mic Mayhew
Pine marten release from soft release pen, south Cumbria.
Mic Mayhew
Checking camera trap
Mic Mayhew
Pine marten (Martes martes) adult female in caledonian forest, The Black Isle, Highlands, Scotland, UK, July, photographed by camera trap. 2020VISION Exhibition. 2020VISION Book Plate.
Terry Whittaker / naturepl.com
Pine marten (Martes martes) youngster in pine tree in woodland, Beinn Eighe National Nature Reserve, Wester Ross, Scotland, UK
Mark Hamblin

The pine marten is now protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. However, it remains Critically Endangered in England and is listed as a Species of Principal Importance by Natural England. The UK population in 2018 was only estimated at 3,700 individuals, with 3,500 of these occurring in Scotland. Recent reintroduction efforts have established small, growing populations in Gloucestershire and Wales.

We aim to restore the pine marten in Cumbria. A successful translocation will improve its conservation status and help restore woodland ecosystem function, by forming a more complete predator guild. Pine martens can have substantial impacts on the forest ecosystems they inhabit, providing beneficial opportunities for other native species; as such, they are a keystone species. Recent evidence has shown that pine martens can cause a decline in grey squirrel occupancy and an increase in red squirrel abundance.
This project is part of a coordinated national effort to recover this species and comprises a dynamic public/private sector partnership between University of Cumbria, Forestry England, University of Leeds, Lifescape Project, and Cumbria Wildlife Trust. We work closely with Vincent Wildlife Trust and other national pine marten recovery initiatives, and our long-term partnerships (in particular, the Restoring Hardknott Forest Project) will ensure project success and legacy.

Specification Description Achievements Exchange
Project: Restoring pine martens in Cumbria
Region: Cumbria, UK
Type of project: Supporting wildlife comeback
Aim and vision: The South Cumbria Pine Marten Recovery Project is using translocation methods to restore pine marten populations as part of a coordinated national effort to recover the species. This population reinforcement is improving the conservation status of the species in Britain through the recovery of part of its native range and the expansion of the metapopulation structure.
The return of the pine martens in Cumbria is increasing the species richness of the region and helping to restore woodland ecosystem function. The presence of pine martens will support the work of the Cumbrian squirrel groups to control grey squirrels and enable the restoration of red squirrels through competitive release.
Other activities: Community involved, Education, Research
Results you aim to accomplish in 10 years from now on: By 2035 changes in perceptions and behaviors towards pine martens in rural communities will support the ongoing recovery of the species in Cumbria and neighboring counties. The pine marten population will be viable and self-sustaining as the translocated animals, breed and disperse to expand their range and density as a functioning metapopulation.
Results so far: • Conducted several studies in accordance with IUCN translocation guidelines (e.g. population modelling, disease risk assessment, community engagement)
• Worked with statutory agencies and landowners in England to identify suitable translocation sites
• Obtained licence from NatureScot to trap and translocate pine marten
• Trapped and translocated pine marten (as of 10th October) and currently in monitoring phase ahead of 2025 translocations
Inspirational value: This is a regionally important project and a unique collaboration between public/private sector organizations, community groups, landowners and university partners which provides an important platform for future regional landscape and species recovery initiatives. The project bridges the divide between the conservation and field-sports sectors and demonstrates that traditional estate activities are not incompatible with the recovery of mesopredators.
Experience you would like to share: Key lessons from managing a meso-predator translocation project: The translocation process like trapping, processing (genetic monitoring), transporting, releasing and monitoring phases of activity
Creating new partnerships: Working with ‘non-traditional’ conservation partners such as shooting estates
Experience you would like to gain: Greater awareness of the wider network of ERN sites across Europe. Lessons learned from other native species reintroduction initiatives. Approaches to community engagement and human-wildlife conflict management/mitigation.
Map
Country
UK
Start year
2023
Area type
Forest-grassland mosaic, Temperate deciduous forest
Natural process
Predation
Flagship species
Pine Marten
Restoring pine martens in Cumbria
Pine marten in release area
Mic Mayhew
Pine marten release from soft release pen, south Cumbria.
Mic Mayhew
Checking camera trap
Mic Mayhew
Pine marten (Martes martes) adult female in caledonian forest, The Black Isle, Highlands, Scotland, UK, July, photographed by camera trap. 2020VISION Exhibition. 2020VISION Book Plate.
Terry Whittaker / naturepl.com
Pine marten (Martes martes) youngster in pine tree in woodland, Beinn Eighe National Nature Reserve, Wester Ross, Scotland, UK
Mark Hamblin

The pine marten is now protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. However, it remains Critically Endangered in England and is listed as a Species of Principal Importance by Natural England. The UK population in 2018 was only estimated at 3,700 individuals, with 3,500 of these occurring in Scotland. Recent reintroduction efforts have established small, growing populations in Gloucestershire and Wales.

We aim to restore the pine marten in Cumbria. A successful translocation will improve its conservation status and help restore woodland ecosystem function, by forming a more complete predator guild. Pine martens can have substantial impacts on the forest ecosystems they inhabit, providing beneficial opportunities for other native species; as such, they are a keystone species. Recent evidence has shown that pine martens can cause a decline in grey squirrel occupancy and an increase in red squirrel abundance.
This project is part of a coordinated national effort to recover this species and comprises a dynamic public/private sector partnership between University of Cumbria, Forestry England, University of Leeds, Lifescape Project, and Cumbria Wildlife Trust. We work closely with Vincent Wildlife Trust and other national pine marten recovery initiatives, and our long-term partnerships (in particular, the Restoring Hardknott Forest Project) will ensure project success and legacy.

Map
Country
UK
Start year
2023
Area type
Forest-grassland mosaic, Temperate deciduous forest
Natural process
Predation
Flagship species
Pine Marten
Specification
Project: Restoring pine martens in Cumbria
Region: Cumbria, UK
Description
Type of project: Supporting wildlife comeback
Aim and vision: The South Cumbria Pine Marten Recovery Project is using translocation methods to restore pine marten populations as part of a coordinated national effort to recover the species. This population reinforcement is improving the conservation status of the species in Britain through the recovery of part of its native range and the expansion of the metapopulation structure.
The return of the pine martens in Cumbria is increasing the species richness of the region and helping to restore woodland ecosystem function. The presence of pine martens will support the work of the Cumbrian squirrel groups to control grey squirrels and enable the restoration of red squirrels through competitive release.
Other activities: Community involved, Education, Research
Achievements
Results you aim to accomplish in 10 years from now on: By 2035 changes in perceptions and behaviors towards pine martens in rural communities will support the ongoing recovery of the species in Cumbria and neighboring counties. The pine marten population will be viable and self-sustaining as the translocated animals, breed and disperse to expand their range and density as a functioning metapopulation.
Results so far: • Conducted several studies in accordance with IUCN translocation guidelines (e.g. population modelling, disease risk assessment, community engagement)
• Worked with statutory agencies and landowners in England to identify suitable translocation sites
• Obtained licence from NatureScot to trap and translocate pine marten
• Trapped and translocated pine marten (as of 10th October) and currently in monitoring phase ahead of 2025 translocations
Exchange
Inspirational value: This is a regionally important project and a unique collaboration between public/private sector organizations, community groups, landowners and university partners which provides an important platform for future regional landscape and species recovery initiatives. The project bridges the divide between the conservation and field-sports sectors and demonstrates that traditional estate activities are not incompatible with the recovery of mesopredators.
Experience you would like to share: Key lessons from managing a meso-predator translocation project: The translocation process like trapping, processing (genetic monitoring), transporting, releasing and monitoring phases of activity<br /> Creating new partnerships: Working with ‘non-traditional’ conservation partners such as shooting estates
Experience you would like to gain: Greater awareness of the wider network of ERN sites across Europe. Lessons learned from other native species reintroduction initiatives. Approaches to community engagement and human-wildlife conflict management/mitigation.
Restoring pine martens in Cumbria
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