New 'haven' for rare mammal

A NORTHUMBERLAND National Trust property is set to be the home of a new “haven” for one of Britain’s rarest mammals.

- DANIEL HALL

Pine Martens were declared extinct in Northumberland at the beginning of the 20th century, but have seen their numbers increase in recent years in Kielder Forest.

Pine Martens are cat-sized mustelids, a family of carnivorous mammals which also includes badgers, otters, ferrets, weasels and stoats.

A small number of sightings were reported to national wildlife charity the Vincent Wildlife Trust (VWT) in the early 2000s, and more than 60 records of pine martens were verified in Northumberland when the trust's Back from the Brink project concluded in 2021.

VWT has since set up a partnership with the National Trust, with 13 den boxes installed at Wallington. The estate's haven site also includes a new wildlife viewing hide and pine marten information boards along a nature trail.