Pine martens (Martes martes) are mustelids, related to stoats, badgers, and otters. They are a cat-sized, arboreal weasel whose native range in the UK has been greatly affected by deforestation and game shooting estate management. They are excellent climbers, one of the few mammals able to rotate their ankles, allowing them to go down as swiftly as they go up. They are opportunistic in their foraging, their diet consists mainly of small mammals, birds and berries. Pine martens are a protected species in the UK and Ireland.

Martens have large territories and travel great distances to establish them, so connectivity between habitats is key to encouraging sustainable populations. They thrive in complex woodland habitats, where varied tree species, age and canopy is available. Thick undergrowth provides cover for them to move through a landscape to avoid predation. Red foxes, eagles and goshawk all predate martens. With Radnorshire having a lot of forestry plantations it is important that clear-felling is not extensive to avoid isolation of individuals. Most forestry workers have now been trained in forest management for martens and will be contacted by the relevant parties as to where martens may be present. 
 
Continuous Cover Forestry (CCF) is much better for martens than monocrop, conifer plantations. It is a mix of deciduous and evergreen trees designed to be a more natural woodland management model. CCF provides timber without needing to be clear-felled ensuring complex, multi-tiered woodland habitat remains intact and thus increasing biodiversity. Native, hardwood species take longer to mature than spruce or pine and as they age, they can suffer from adverse weather conditions: limbs will break and trees will fall and provide habitats for invertebrates, birds and small mammals. Tree cavities, upturned root plates and brash piles are favoured den sites for pine martens providing them a safe haven for their kits. Ground flora will also establish itself and native, fruit-bearing species, such as blackberry and bilberry, provide food in the summer and autumn.  

Mixed woodlands are also the preference of a non-native and very destructive species - The Grey squirrel. The damage that this species can cause to our woodland is extensive and controlling them has proved near-on impossible unless carried out on smaller island populations. Here is where the pine marten helps us. Studies in Ireland have proved that in areas where martens are present, grey squirrel populations have dropped significantly and, in turn, the native red squirrel populations have re-established themselves. The smaller, lighter Red can evade most predation by accessing branches too thin to hold a marten. The heavier Grey is unable to go where a marten cannot. Welsh red squirrel populations are tiny and fragmented due to pressure and disease carried by Greys, so in helping martens we could well be lending a much-needed hand to our beloved Red Squirrel.   

There are plenty of landowners out there who have already planted woodlands or plan to do so. Whilst providing future habitat connectivity, what it may not yet provide is denning opportunities. Over the last two decades, specific designs for pine marten den boxes have been trialled and there are successful versions available to suit any budget and even make yourself. Establishing fruit species such as bilberry, blackberry, hazel, cherry is highly beneficial. Ivy also provides food and shelter so removal should be limited.  
 
Marten breeding season doesn’t overlap too much with woodland management, but advice is that work should stop between March and September to allow the kits to grow to independence safely. If there is any indication of them denning and breeding the Vincent Wildlife Trust recommends an exclusion zone of 100m around the den site.    

Most importantly, keep your eyes peeled!  
 
If you have seen Pine Marten in Radnorshire please email: radnorshiremammalgroup@live.com 

If you require any help recognising ways that you could help these charismatic creatures on your land, please contact rhys@rwtwales.org