Yorkshire Pine Marten Project

NatureSpy’s search for pine martens in Yorkshire began in 2013 as a small initiative. That early work eventually led to a landmark moment: the first-ever footage of a pine marten in the North York Moors National Park. This discovery laid the groundwork for a National Lottery-funded project to investigate the species’ presence and begin exploring the potential for their return. Now, we’re entering an exciting new phase - assessing both the ecological and social pathways to pine marten recovery in north east Yorkshire.

Explore the project’s aims, history, latest updates and answers to common questions about pine martens and their recovery. 

The pine marten remains one of Yorkshire’s rarest mammals. Despite an increase in pine marten records and activity in the region in recent years, our monitoring shows that they are currently present in small, likely unsustainable numbers. 

The North East Yorkshire Pine Marten Pathways Project is a two-year initiative exploring whether pine martens could survive and thrive in this part of the country. Running from 2024 to 2026, and led by Forestry England, NatureSpy and Yorkshire Wildlife Trust, the project is assessing both the ecological and social conditions needed for a viable population.

This includes gathering evidence on current presence, habitat suitability, and broader ecological potential, while also working with local stakeholders to understand perceptions and explore opportunities for coexistence. The findings will help shape future decisions about pine marten recovery in the region.

The idea of pine martens recovering in the North York Moors National Park isn’t new. It’s rooted in both the past and the potential of this unique landscape.

A Long Trail of Evidence

For decades, people have reported pine marten sightings across this region. A review in the 1980s identified North Yorkshire as one of just five areas in England and Wales where the species persisted in low - and likely declining - numbers. A later national review of records from 1996 to 2007 highlighted north east Yorkshire as one of the few areas with a notable number of reports.

This mounting evidence sparked NatureSpy’s search for living proof of pine martens in the North York Moors National Park in 2013. Since 2017, trail camera footage and public sightings have confirmed the species is present, though in very small numbers.

A Landscape with Potential

Once widespread across the UK, pine martens declined dramatically due to persecution and the loss of woodland habitat. Legal protection introduced in the 1980s helped tackle persecution, but habitat loss remains a longer-term challenge.

Pine martens need large, well-connected woodlands with good cover, food sources and denning opportunities. The North York Moors has the potential to offer exactly that - around 23% of the National Park is wooded, covering over 30,000 hectares. The Long-term Strategic Recovery Plan for Pine Martens in Britain identifies the eastern side of the Moors as an area of high habitat suitability and connectivity.

However, the recovery plan warns that natural recolonisation from the expanding Scottish population could be challenging, due to urban areas and major roads further north acting as barriers.

Charting a Path Forward

This mix of promise and challenge is exactly why our efforts are focused here. There’s clear potential, but also important questions. Could pine martens survive and thrive in this part of Yorkshire? What conditions would support their success? And how do local people feel about their return?

The North East Yorkshire Pine Marten Pathways Project aims to find out.

Public sightings are an important part of pine marten recovery, helping to build a picture of pine marten presence and guide our conservation work. It’s quick and easy to submit a pine marten sighting in Yorkshire.

We'll ask for details such as location, date, and for any photos/videos or additional info you have.