Conservationists have discovered that pine martens, previously only thought to have survived largely in the North of England, are now well established in several areas of the New Forest and successfully breeding. The evidence was uncovered in the second year of a long-term study to understand how these rare and protected creatures are recolonising the area.Pine martens, a cat-sized member of the weasel family, were once widespread across the UK. Habitat loss and persecution reduced their numbers

Conservationists have discovered that pine martens, previously only thought to have survived largely in the North of England, are now well established in several areas of the New Forest and successfully breeding. The evidence was uncovered in the second year of a long-term study to understand how these rare and protected creatures are recolonising the area.Pine martens, a cat-sized member of the weasel family, were once widespread across the UK. Habitat loss and persecution reduced their numbers, with only small and fragmented populations remaining, mostly in northern England, Scotland, and parts of Wales.