The pine marten is a charming, fragile survivor of our ancestors’ woodland clearance and persecution of predators. It’s current recovery in Britain and Ireland bucks the trend of wildlife loss and offers hope in this era of overwhelming environmental degradation. In this talk Johnny Birks will involve science and humour in exploring the human attitudes and impacts that have shaped the pine marten’s changing fortunes: from its heyday in the Mesolithic wildwood; through its close brush with extinction 100 years ago when it survived mainly in a rugged Scottish Highland refuge; to the exciting modern reintroductions restoring populations to Wales and western England; and to the challenges to further recovery posed by habitat constraints and climate breakdown.

Meet at 9am in the Rushy Common car park just off Tar Road (SP380074). We will start by accessing the hide overlooking Rushy Common. So if you are late joining, please check here first. We will then walk around the former gravel pit complex. The route will be flat but may be muddy this time of year. Finishing around 1pm. Parking is free.