Tags
Catbrook wood, Martes martes, Ninewells Wood species list, Pine Martens, Pine Martens in Ninewells wood, Pine Martens in Wales, Wye valley
There are Pine Martens in Wales and it would seem they are a genetically different race to the Scottish ones. See the BBC article click Pine Martens Wales 
‘There is a small Welsh population. Pine marten scat found in Cwm Rheidol forest in 2007 confirmed using DNA testing. A male was found in 2012 as road-kill near Newtown, Powys. This was the first confirmed sighting in Wales of the species, living or dead, since 1971. ‘ ( Quote and photo from Wikipedia)
So what do I know about their existence in Ninewells wood.
Firstly this is an ancient woodland site so presumably was home to Pine Martens many years ago.
Secondly it has had pine trees growing on it for about 100 years or more and despite the felling of my Pines, there is still a large part with Corsican Pine and Larch growing at the present.
Thirdly my neighbour told me that she had met an elderly gentleman whilst she was taking her dogs for a walk who had told her that Pine Martens exist in these woods.
Fourth she also said that her other neighbour had seen a Pine Marten in their garden, which backs onto the woods, only a few days ago.
On the other hand, I spoke to a chap from the Deer Initiative at the recent CONFOR woodland show who has been putting up cameras all over the Wye Valley and Welsh borders and he has not seen any Pine Martens on any of the cameras including the one he put in Ninewells wood.
His view and mine is that it is possible that they are there but most unlikely and that it is fairly easy to confuse them with Mink which are definitely about. Below is a photo of an American Mink again taken from Wikipedia.
Ninewells Wood 
Do you know what area of pines/forest is needed to support a viable breeding population of pine martens? Doses that area exist nowadays? Amelia
No, but they do not actually need Pine woodland as they feed on a range of different animals and birds which are perhaps more available in deciduous woodland than pine woodland. Originally they were confused with Beech martens, which have never been a part of the British fauna.
It would seem the reasons for their decline is that they have a nice rich brown fur which was desirable as a form of clothing or clothing accessory. Also in the past gamekeepers would shoot anything that might possibly eat their game.
Maybe now they might make a come back as fur is no longer a desirable form of clothing and gamekeepers are in the main more enlightened.
I definitely saw a pine martin it was not a mink ….polecat…..fox cub it was the size of a domestic cat and oh it wasn’t a cat ?
Gin and tonics going down well then.