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Pine Marten surveys, technical reports and mitigation plans are required for development projects that could affect Pine Martens and their habitats, as part of getting planning permission or a mitigation licence. Surveys are needed to show whether pine marten are present in the area or nearby. Mitigation plans may be required to show how a project or development will avoid, reduce or manage any negative effects to Pine Marten species.

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When are Pine Marten Surveys Required?

Pine Marten Survey Info

Pine Marten surveys, technical reports and mitigation plans are required for development projects that could affect Pine Martens and their habitats, as part of getting planning permission or a mitigation licence.

Surveys are needed to show whether pine marten are present in the area or nearby. Mitigation plans may be required to show how a project or development will avoid, reduce or manage any negative effects to Pine Marten species.

 

Types of Pine Marten Survey

 

Direct Observation

A preliminary walk-over survey of the site area can determine the presence of features which Pine Marten might use as dens, and identify any physical evidence that these sites are being used.

The Pine Marten is an elusive and shy species and is unlikely to be seen during this sort of survey. The following survey techniques are used:

Specialist surveys

Specialist surveys can be devised for a wide range of purposes. Out specialist ecologists are always happy to discuss your requirements further.

 

 

Scat Surveys

Scat surveys can be undertaken at any time of year, however the optimal time for surveys is during the summer months when pine martens are more active and weather conditions or leaf litter are less likely to degrade or obscure scats.

 

Why Choose Ellendale Environmental?

Ellendale Environmental ecologists are experienced and licensed to undertake Pine Marten surveys and delivering survey reports and mitigation strategies that ensure our clients are able to progress with their planning applications and developments.

Your development will be in safe hands with our experts at Ellendale Environmental who will work alongside you to ensure that your development is compliant with the law which will minimise disruption to your project. We are able to ensure this through extensive searches of the surrounding area being conducted for the presence of pine martens. If pine martens are present we work collectively to ensure the development process is not hindered whilst protecting the species through implementing appropriate mitigation and compensation measures.

 
 

Pine Martens are legally protected by Schedule 5 of The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981(as amended).

Legislation

 It is an offence to intentionally or recklessly:

  • kill, injure or take a wild pine marten;

  • damage, destroy or obstruct access to any structure or place which such an animal uses for shelter or protection (a nest or den);

  • disturb such an animal when it is occupying a structure or place for that purpose;

  • possess or control, sell, offer for sale or possess or transport for the purpose of sale any live or dead wild pine marten or any derivative of such an animal.

Knowingly causing or permitting any of the above acts to be carried out is also an offence.

In Scotland the legislation is amended by the Nature Conservation (Scotland) Act 2004 and the Wildlife and Natural Environment (Scotland) Act 2011. Under this legislation it is an offence to;

  • intentionally kill, injure or take a wild pine marten; or

  • to possess or control, sell, offer for sale or possess, or transport for the purpose of sale, any live or dead wild pine marten

Pine Martens - Find Out More

The European pine marten Martes martes, known most commonly as the pine marten was once the second most common carnivore in Britain.

In Great Britain, the species was for many years common only in northwestern Scotland however they have more recently spread from their Scottish Highlands stronghold into much of Scotland.

In England and Wales pine martens are extremely rare with some remnant populations known

Pine marten is still quite rare in Ireland, but the population is recovering and spreading; its traditional strongholds are in the west and south, especially showed that pine martens were distributed across all counties of Northern Ireland.