Returning Species

Pine Martens  

Pine Martens were once widespread across the UK, but their populations drastically declined due to deforestation, hunting and loss of habitat - so need to protect their genetic diversity and population resilience through habitat creation and connectivity.

In 2016, 35 pine martens were reintroduced to the Forest of Dean and Wye Valley.   Recent reports suggest that 17 of them have remained in the Forest of Dean, while others have spread into Wales and Gloucestershire.  Going forward, the Two Moors Pine Marten Project plans to release 30–40 Pine Martens across Exmoor and Dartmoor in 2025 and 2026 – and the West of England will be a crucial link for connecting these returning populations.

The return of pine martens to our woodlands contributes to the overall health of the ecosystem, including the natural population balancing of small mammals and birds as well as the control of grey squirrels - an invasive non-native species that causes significant damage to trees, outcompetes our native red squirrels and degrades key habitats for iconic woodland bird species like hawfinches and lesser spotted woodpeckers.

Beavers

Once native to the UK, beavers were hunted to extinction in the early 16th century.  Now recognised for their vital role as "ecosystem engineers”, since 2002 they have been reintroduced to various locations across the UK.   Beavers are known to deliver significant ecological benefits, particularly in restoring degraded wetlands and improving water quality – by building dams, altering woodlands and creating wetlands, they reshape landscapes, improve habitat quality, enhance biodiversity and build climate resilience for the long term.

Beaver dams create wetlands that act as natural buffers and water flow regulators, storing water locally during droughts as well as reducing flood risk by capturing excess water and releasing it slowly during periods of heavy rainfall.  They also act as natural filtration systems, improving water quality by trapping sediments, nutrients and pollutants, as well as providing nature-based “carbon sinks” by trapping and holding sequestered carbon sediments.

The new wetlands created by beavers also provide crucial habitat for a wide range of fish, amphibians, birds, insects, and mammals. For example, a study conducted by UWE Bristol found that bat activity significantly increased in new, beaver-created habitats.

Despite these benefits, the return of beavers also requires careful management to avoid conflicts with landowners, particularly farmers, where local ecology and water flow may be altered.

White-tailed Eagles

The white-tailed eagle is the UK’s largest bird of prey, with a wingspan of up to 2.5 metres. Once a common sight in the UK, they were driven to extinction in England in the 1700s due to habitat loss and persecution. Their reintroduction began on the Isle of Wight in 2021 and there have since been sightings of these birds around the Severn Estuary, which was historically part of their range.

White-tailed eagles play an important role as apex predators, helping sustain ecological balance in marine and freshwater ecosystems by naturally regulating local fish, waterfowl and mammal populations.  As carrion-eating scavengers, they also play a key role in nutrient cycling and reducing the spread of disease in wildlife.

Their return also offers wider socio-economic benefits - in Scotland, reintroduced white-tailed eagles have boosted local economies through wildlife tourism.

Any re-introduction needs to be carefully managed, with local consultation at its heart.  Concerns from landowners, particularly farmers and fishermen, who may worry about the potential impact on livestock and fisheries, need to be heard and addressed.  By understanding and mitigating conflicts, an approach can be found that will allow our returning eagles to coexist alongside us and further aid their re-establishment to how they once were in our ecology.

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We aim to further strengthen collaborations with key partners, such as the Beaver Management Group and the Severn Estuary Partnership, aligning efforts, sharing expertise and maximising our impact.

These existing partnerships provide a strong foundation to expand our habitat restoration and species management work and help us integrate further with regional and national conservation priorities.

Our first priority will be the mapping of priority areas for habitat restoration and creation, ensuring that key habitats are in place to support the reintroduction efforts through a tailored strategy for each species.