Vincent Wildlife Trust has launched a new annual pine marten citizen science survey to help inform future conservation actions. VWT’s new Citizen Science Survey — Marten Month — will happen every September to encourage people to send in their pine marten sightings. This information will help to improve understanding of how one of Britain’s rarest mammals — the pine marten — is recovering across Britain.

As well as sending in sightings, people are also encouraged to share their views on the species as part of a nationwide survey. This new annual survey, made possible by funding raised through The Big Give's Earth Raise 2026 match funding campaign, aims to gather vital information on the distribution of pine martens to support ongoing conservation efforts for this elusive native mammal.

Once believed to be Britain's second most common carnivore, the pine marten suffered dramatic declines due to persecution and habitat loss and, by 1915, had become the second rarest carnivore. Thanks to decades of conservation work, populations are beginning to recover in parts of Britain, but gaps remain in our understanding of where pine martens are now found.

Marten Month will harness the power of citizen science to collect up-to-date records from across Wales, England and Scotland, which will help conservationists build a clearer picture of the current distribution of this rare species and identify priority areas for future conservation action.

Gathering information on people's experiences and views of pine martens will also provide valuable insights into how people and wildlife live together.

Katherine McBride, Carnivore Conservation Officer at Vincent Wildlife Trust, said: “Pine martens are one of Britain's conservation success stories, but they are elusive and difficult to monitor and so we still need better information about where they occur and how people are experiencing their return. Marten Month gives everyone the opportunity to contribute to conservation science and help shape the pine marten’s future.”

How to take part

Whether you have spotted a pine marten in your garden, or you’ve captured an image or video on camera, or have seen a dead one by the side of the road, every reported sighting, whether alive or dead, will help improve our understanding of pine martens and support their long-term recovery.

Report a pine marten sighting and share your views at: https://arcg.is/L1fG0

To find out more about Marten Month and how to identify a pine marten, please visit www.vwt.org.uk/projects/marten-month