Rare mustelid could be reintroduced to Sussex countryside

European pine martens were a regular sight in Sussex woodlands until the 19th century when numbers fell dramatically due to hunting and habitat loss.

By 1850, they were absent or scarce in large areas of southern England, but still present in heavily wooded parts of Sussex, Devon and Cornwall.

But by 1915 their populations were limited to small parts of northern England and Scotland.

• READ MORE: What is a mustelid and where are they found in the UK?

Now, people in Sussex are being invited to put forward their views on the prospect of restoring pine martens to the region by a group of conservationists who are looking at whether it will be possible to reintroduce the species.

Pine martens are rare and elusive creatures

The Pine Marten Restoration Project is a partnership between Kent Wildlife Trust, Wildwood Trust, Sussex Wildlife Trust, Ashdown Forest and Forestry England.

The project is developing a ten-year strategy, working with more than 35 organisations as well as groups of local people.

Areas the trusts are considering include Ashdown Forest and the High Weald.

This year, social and ecological studies will continue and part of that will involve examining the habitat to see if it is suitable for pine martens but also how local people feel about the project and if they would support it.

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Matt Phelps, species recovery officer for Sussex Wildlife Trust, said: “Local people are crucial to the success of any proposed reintroduction project. We want to hear from anyone who may have questions, concerns or might want to be involved in the project on a voluntary level.

“Please do check our website and sign up for updates as we start out on this exciting journey of collaboration and discovery.

“We welcome anyone and everyone to be involved.”

Following conservation efforts, the number of pine marten in the wild in the UK is now thought to be around 4,000.

They are mostly found in Scotland, particularly in the Highlands. Populations in northern England and North Wales are fragmented and small.

Pine martens come from the mustelid family, so are related to weasels, ferrets, polecats and otters.

They are hard to see as they live in woodlands and are shy and primarily nocturnal.