Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust, Forestry England, Forest Research and Vincent Wildlife Trust are collaborating on a project to reintroduce pine martens to the Forest of Dean and lower Wye Valley, with the support of Forest Holidays and the Woodland Trust.
In September 2019, 18 pine martens were successfully released into the Forest. You can read the project’s position statement by clicking the linkbelow.
Project Position Statement 2019
Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) and Forestry and Land Scotland (FLS) have both been instrumental in the reintroduction of pine martens, not only in England with Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust, but previously in Wales with Vincent Wildlife Trust. Consideration of source sites within Scotland and the sustainable removal of animals is vital to sustaining and managing a healthy pine marten population in their stronghold. Our work with SNH and FLS was undertaken following the Scottish Code for Conservation Translocations. Find out more about pine martens in Scotland here.
We are grateful to the following supporters who have also helped to fund the project: Montague-Panton Animal Welfare Trust, Waterloo Foundation, Esmee Fairbairn Foundation, Taurus Foundation, The Rowlands Trust, Dame Edna Smithan Research Award, Alice Noakes Memorial Charitable Trust, private donors and everyone who contributed towards our pine marten appeal.