Breeding pine martens discovered in New Forest

Our conservationists were elated in December when hidden remote cameras captured evidence of pine martens breeding in the New Forest.

The incredible footage of the oftenelusive mustelids included shots of youngsters, in a huge boost for one of Britain’s rarest mammals.

Previously, pine martens were thought to have survived only in northern England.

With the species now well established in the New Forest, successful breeding is another promising sign for their future.

The evidence was uncovered in the second year of a long-term study led by Forestry England and Wild New Forest, with support from the Trust, to understand how pine martens are recolonising the area.

Having reviewed over 60 hours of trail camera clips, Trust staff were rewarded with five separate video clips of pine martens.

Ecologist Jo Gore, who painstakingly reviewed many of those clips, said: “The opportunity to discover that pine martens are living successfully in the New Forest has been very rewarding.”

Artist donates proceeds to support wildlife

British painter and environmentalist Kurt Jackson has generously donated the proceeds from one of his paintings, Hogweed Visitors, to the Trust.

The painting, which featured in Kurt’s recent exhibition at Southampton City Art Gallery, raised £3,500 to support wildlife and wild places in our two counties.

Kurt said: “I’m delighted my paintings can help raise awareness, and also the funds necessary for the valuable work the Trust is involved in to continue.”

We’d like to say a huge thank you to Kurt for supporting conservation, it will make a huge difference.

New photobook celebrates barn owls in Hampshire

Dennis Bright, a barn owl enthusiast, photographer and long-term supporter of the Wildlife Trust, has produced a stunning new book about these birds of prey.

Valley of the Barn Owls features a beautiful collection of over 100 photographs Dennis has taken of barn owls while studying them in the Test Valley for more than 30 years.

As well as being a first-class photographer, Dennis has played a key role in barn owl conservation in Hampshire during that time.

Only 250 copies of the hardback book are available. Each copy costs £25 and comes signed by the author. To purchase a copy, contact Dennis directly on 07472 134724.