Pine marten

Pine Martens are elusive nocturnal mammals that have recently returned to the ancient woodlands of the New Forest.

Conservation work funded through the Species Survival Fund project, which included creating and restoring wetland areas as well as removing invasive Rhododendron, helped provide high-quality habitat for native mammals like the Pine Marten.

These animals were once native to much of Britain, but by the late 19th and early 20th centuries, they disappeared from southern England due to loss of habitat and persecution for their fur.

Today, they are gradually re-emerging in the New Forest and play an important role in contributing to a healthy woodland ecosystem.