Longleat shortlisted for national wildlife restoration award 

Longleat has been shortlisted for a prestigious national award recognising outstanding contributions to wildlife conservation in the UK. The project — Assisted Recolonisation of Pine Martens in Wiltshire and Somerset — has been named a finalist in the BIAZA Great British Wildlife Restoration Awards 2026. 

For over 40 years, Longleat’s woodland has been managed using continuous cover forestry — an approach that promotes rich, diverse habitats. This long-term commitment has helped create ideal conditions for native wildlife, including one of the UK’s rarest and most charismatic mammals, the pine marten.  

Although pine martens are classified as Critically Endangered in England and Wales on the Red List of Britain’s Mammals, populations have recently been successfully re-established in the New Forest and Forest of Dean. With Longleat’s woodland positioned roughly halfway between the two, the team saw an opportunity to help the species reconnect across the landscape. By improving key habitat features, the team successfully made Longleat forest even more attractive to pine martens. 

“We wanted to make sure that if pine martens are exploring the area, they’d find everything they needed to make a home,” explains Dr Tom Lewis, Longleat’s Conservation and Research Manager. “One of their key requirements are large tree cavities — for resting and breeding. Although the ancient woodland at Longleat is rich and diverse, these cavities are still relatively rare, so we installed specially designed den boxes to mimic them.” 

Just six months after installing the artificial den sites, evidence of pine martens began to appear. DNA analysis of scat confirmed their presence, and since then, camera traps have recorded at least two individuals travelling around the woodland regularly. 

“Nearly two years on, we continue to see them on camera,” adds Dr Tom. “They now appear to have established themselves here, which is incredibly exciting and a huge achievement for the team. With minimal human disturbance, plentiful food, and good denning sites, our hope is that we’ll see evidence of them breeding here in the near future.” 

This project represents more than just a local success story — it demonstrates how carefully managed estates play a crucial role in national conservation efforts. Longleat’s work contributes to a broader landscape-scale recovery of the pine marten in southern England, helping to restore balance to the ecosystem. 

Longleat is honoured to be shortlisted alongside so many inspiring organisations and projects, each contributing to the protection and recovery of UK wildlife. The return of species like the pine marten has only been made possible through shared and coordinated action. 

“Conservation efforts only thrive when we work together, across regions and generations,” says Simon Askew, Longleat’s Chief Operating Officer. “We’re immensely proud of the conservation and Forestry teams for this recognition from BIAZA. It’s a wonderful example of how science-led habitat management can deliver real impact, and it reflects Longleat’s wider commitment to support biodiversity and the protection of native species.” 

The shortlisted projects have been invited to an awards evening at the House of the Speaker of the House of Commons in January 2026. The winner will have received the most votes from supportive Members of Parliament or Members of the House of Lords.