Read the previous pine marten blog here.

Sharing expertise across borders 

Over the past few years, there have been several successful pine marten reintroductions across England. From the rugged landscapes of Scotland in the North and the valleys of Wales in the South - individual Wildlife Trusts and other conservation organisations have worked to restore healthy, growing populations across areas of suitable habitat. Importantly, these projects have trialled different methods and monitored their impact carefully, so future projects such as our own can benefit from best practice advice. 

Mapping the future of Pine Martens in Derbyshire 

The first step for us to gauge Derbyshire’s readiness for pine marten is to deliver habitat feasibility modelling, to define what suitable habitat we have, what condition it is in, how it connects across our county and beyond our borders, to determine where  priority  areas to extend and improve habitat in future.  

Pine martens are bold travellers. While they can move through different landscapes, they truly belong in high-quality woodlands. However, their homes can be threatened by proximity to farmland and shooting estates, or fragmentation of their habitats by road networks. That’s why we look at so many different features when checking if the land is ready for their return. 

We were grateful to receive support and advice from other Wildlife Trust teams, who have developed their own habitat feasibility model as part of successful pine marten reintroduction projects elsewhere in the country. With their specialist advice on mapping and habitat features, we are in the process of adapting this model for Derbyshire’s context. 

Uniting for a Midlands-scale Restoration 

Pine martens' movement doesn't stop at the county line. With Derbyshire sitting between growing populations in Yorkshire and Shropshire, we’re working closely with neighbouring conservation organisations to take a coordinated, considered approach to supporting their return across the wider landscape. 

By collaborating with these key partners, and with the support of several other significant stakeholders in the area, we hope to develop an ambitious yet realistic strategy for the restoration of pine marten in Derbyshire. This strategy will not just focus on sustainable reintroductions, but will consider the likelihood and prospective timings of recolonisation from the Yorkshire and Shropshire, preparing Derbyshire for a healthy, diverse, sustainable population in perpetuity.  

What comes next? 

Our Wilder 2030 strategy is clear – by 2030 we aim to reintroduce the pine marten to healthy, connected landscapes across Derbyshire. We are starting now by gathering evidence, securing key partnerships and collaborating on strategy development, but our next major step will be seeking project-funding to begin setting up for the practicalities of a pine marten reintroduction project. Everything we do will be evidence-based, considering the best interests of both wildlife and communities across Derbyshire.  

We know that listening to local people is a key part of making good decisions about whether Derbyshire is ready for species reintroduction. Pine martens could bring real benefits, especially for the health of our woodland ecosystems, and we want to move this work forward thoughtfully but with purpose. We’re really grateful to our members and supporters for following the journey so far, and we’ll continue to share updates and invite input as the plans develop. 

Join the movement to bring back Pine Martens 

Our members’ support our most ambitious work! If you're ready to help bring back the pine marten, please consider joining Derbyshire Wildlife Trust or making a donation to our Wilder 2030 fund. Every contribution powers the critical work that happens behind the scenes to restore a wilder Derbyshire where people and wildlife thrive together.

Click here to read more about the work we’ve been doing to reintroduce pine martens