Herald - Issue 411

Page 44 • The HERALD • 26th August 2021 v SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL SPECIALISTS v ANIMAL MAGIC 38 Pylewell Road, Hythe, Southampton, Hants SO45 6AQ Tel: (023) 8084 1000 Fax: (023) 8084 5651 www.hythevets.co.uk An Independent Local Practice The Pet Healthcare Centre Do You Need Help with Dog Problems? BK9Confident Say goodbye to training problems, unwanted behaviours, pulling on the lead, fear reactivity, aggression, separation anxiety, recall problems, puppy problems, confidence problems, dominant behaviour, resource guarding and much more! Stop unwanted behaviours like chewing, excessive barking, pulling on the lead, jumping up, scent marking indoors etc. E-learning courses available from £9.99 FREE Courses & Resources Private & Confidential Consultations from £20 Qualified Advanced Canine Behaviourists, Insured, Experienced, Force-Free Methods Only Enquiries T: 023 8178 17 07 E: dogs2fosteruk@gmail.com in association with www.dogs2fosteruk.org Do you have a rescue dog already or maybe you’re hoping to adopt one? Learn everything you need to know to help your rescue dog feel great and be great! Learn how to combat problems, strengthen your relationship, feel confident and empowered with training and be the best you can be for your rescue dog using the latest force-free, positive methods that focus on your dog’s natural abilities in this new self-help e-book for dog owners for just £9.99 Would you like to help rescue dogs by taking part in future BK9 Confident behaviour studies and access our learning resources for FREE? Please visit: www.dogs2fosteruk.org to sign up now! Rescue is the No. 1 Dog Breed PINE MARTENS RETURN TO THE NEW FOREST Conservationists have con rmed that pine martens, a species previously only thought to have survived largely in the North of England, have established a population in the New Forest in southern England. A team from Forestry England, Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust, and Wild New Forest will be studying them over the next year to nd out more about how these rare creatures are living in the Forest. Pine martens, a cat sized member of the weasel family, were once widespread across the UK. Habitat loss and human activity drastically reduced their numbers, with only a small and fragmented population remaining, mostly in Northern England, Scotland and parts of Wales. ey prefer well-wooded areas with plenty of cover and largely feed on small rodents, birds, insects and fruit. e earliest sighting of a pine marten in the New Forest was made in 1993 by the New Forest Badger Group. Over the years, a series of other sightings have been recorded including video of pine martens inadvertently captured on hidden cameras set up to monitor other species. With clear evidence that a population of pine martens has now become established in the New Forest, the survey team will be assessing the size of the population and their breeding success. ey also hope to identify the di erent habitats and areas of the forest where they are settling. Leanne Sargeant, Senior Ecologist at Forestry England, said: “It is not often that we are able to talk about wildlife returning to landscapes and re-establishing their populations, so this is a really fascinating development to study. The New Forest is a unique landscape and a haven for wildlife, and through this work we hope to learn just what makes it such a good habitat for returning pine martens.” e team will use a range of techniques to study these nocturnal creatures including the use of hidden cameras. Every pine marten is chestnut brown in colour but each has a uniquely shaped bib – a pale yellow section of fur on its chin and throat. is makes it possible to identify and record every individual, and observing their interactions means the team will also be able to spot family groups. Joanne Gore, of the Hampshire & Isle ofWightWildlife Trust, said: “Pine marten should be part of the natural ecology of the south of England but persecution and habitat loss have decimated the population. However, tantalising records over the years have hinted that a population might indeed be once again present in the forest. The Trust are therefore pleased to be part of this joint project with Forestry England and Wild New Forest to establish presence and absence, across the New Forest, of this charismatic woodland species.” e project, part funded by DEFRA, will share its ndings with the national pine marten strategy focussing on the recovery of these rare creatures. e survey team are also being supported by the New Forest Badger Group and are keen for other organisations and landowners to get involved in the project. Forestry England is supporting a range of projects across the UK to help secure the return of pine martens to England’s forests and are monitoring populations in the North York Moors, Kielder and the New Forest. It is also taking part in England’s rst reintroduction of pine martens in the Forest of Dean. Begun in 2019, this project reached a major milestone in the summer of 2020 with the birth of the rst kits. Keep your eyes peeled for the Pine Marten whilst walking in the New Forest OUT & ABOUT WITH THE RSPB e next indoor meeting of the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) New Forest Local Group will be held at 7.30pm on Wednesday 8th September at Lyndhurst Community Centre, High Street, Lyndhurst SO43 7NY (doors open 7pm). Richard Snelling will talk about “ e Secrets of Franchises Lodge,” the recently acquired RSPB reserve in the north of the New Forest, where he is the Reserve Manager. e RSPB New Forest Local Group’s next outing is on Friday 10th September at Keyhaven Marshes (SZ 306 915) from 10am to 1pm, meeting by the Keyhaven sea wall (car park charges apply). All meetings are subject to current COVID-19 restrictions. For any further information, please email: newforestgroup@rspb.org.uk or visit: www.rspb.org.uk/groups/newforest. ose taking part in eld trips should wear suitable, dull coloured clothing and sturdy footwear. Admission at indoor meetings for non-members is currently £5 per evening. Win Tickets for Dogstival 2022! Did you visit Dogstival this year? If so they have put together a little (and it is very short!) survey that will help improve their future events, they would be really grateful if you could spare two minutes of your time in-between walkies and cuddles to help them out. As a little incentive they will be choosing two winners at random , either a family weekend ticket, or a pair of adult weekend tickets for Dogstival 2022. Keep your nose to the ground for their 2022 dates - With a special surprise planned for next year!