A RANGE of new digital channels are helping the rare pine marten recover its numbers.
The Vincent Wildlife Trust (VWT) has launched the Martens on the Move project.
It features a new website, TikTok account and National Pine Marten Monitoring Programme and aims to provide up-to-date information on pine martens in Britain, including in this region.
It will also offer ways for individuals and community groups to engage; and capture on-the-ground sightings and records of pine martens that will help inform future conservation actions to ensure that pine martens once again thrive in Britain.
Although once widespread, pine martens were almost extinct in Britain by the beginning of the 20th century — but thanks to legal protection in 1988 and the work of conservationists and land managers, populations have slowly made a comeback in many areas of Scotland. This success has been repeated in parts of England and Wales thanks to recent successful translocation projects
Over the next four years, the Martens on the Move Team will work with local communities to build on these successes by improving habitat for the expanding populations of pine martens, monitoring the animals as they move into new areas and providing opportunities for a diverse range of community groups, landowners and organisations to find out more about the species and how they can play a role in its recovery.
Project manager Dr Stephanie Johnstone said: “We are delighted to have these new digital tools as part of the Martens on the Move project. They will help us to communicate and collaborate with a much wider audience of individuals, community groups and organisations to help the recovery of pine martens into their former ranges.”
