Haven aims to help rare mammal thrive

Dozens of pine marten sightings have been recorded in Northumberland in recent years

A wildlife haven has been created in a bid to help one of Britain's rarest mammals, the pine marten, thrive.

The sanctuary at the National Trust's Wallington site in Northumberland will include a wildlife viewing hide and nature trail.

Pine martens, which belong to the weasel family, had been declared extinct in Northumberland by the beginning of the 20th Century.

However, there have been more than 60 verified sightings in the area in the last decade, according to the Vincent Wildlife Trust (VWT) which has partnered with the National Trust.

Dan Iceton, a ranger at Wallington, said 13 den boxes had been installed with more to come.

He added: "We're also improving woodland connectivity through extensive tree and hedgerow planting, which will not only help pine martens move into the estate but also to travel more freely through the landscape."

The haven is one of three being created nationally as part of a project called Martens on the Move, with the others located in Dumfries and Galloway and Monmouthshire.

They are being paid for using money from the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Dr Stephanie Johnstone, Martens on the Move project manager, said the Wallington site would enable the two trusts "to share the story of this amazing native species with visitors from near and far".

"VWT first started working to monitor and support pine marten recovery in Northumberland in 2017 and, since then, the passion of local communities and organisations from across the north of England for this slowly recovering native carnivore has been an inspiration."