More than 1,100 species have been recorded during a two-year biodiversity survey in the New Forest.
The findings come from a nature recovery project led by the New Forest National Park Authority as part of the £1.3 million Species Survival Fund scheme.
It focused on land around the forest, enhancing 321 hectares through habitat restoration.
Professor Russell Wynn, director of Wild New Forest, said: "There were multiple sightings of pine martens during surveys in 2024 and 2025, as well as a pair marking their scent on the same rhododendron stump an hour apart in October 2025.
"A nearby camera also recorded a female pine marten transferring at least three kits between den sites which suggests breeding took place locally.
"As a result, we were able to warn colleagues at FHT and sub-contractors about their presence and to ensure any potential den sites were protected during removal of rhododendron."
Among the 28 mammals recorded were a rare sighting of a water shrew and three brown hares, plus otters which are now widespread in most river catchments in the New Forest.
Survey work also logged more than 140,000 individual bat passes, confidently identifying all 14 bat species found in the New Forest.
Nearly 100 bird species were recorded, including 13 ‘priority’ species such as the Dartford warbler, kingfisher, and woodlark.
These species are given special protection during the breeding season.
Seven reptile and amphibian species were found, including two sand lizards which are nationally red-listed as endangered.
A small colony of the nationally rare 13-spot Ladybird, the first New Forest record in over 15 years, was among the 431 invertebrate species logged.
Mr Wynn said: "Rare woodland fungi were discovered next to areas where dense rhododendron had been cleared.
"It is not yet fully understood how fungi responds when rhododendron is cleared, but opening up woodland is expected to boost their long-term survival prospects in the New Forest."
The project was funded through the government’s Species Survival Fund.
This fund was developed by Defra and its Arm's-Length Bodies, and was delivered by The National Lottery Heritage Fund in partnership with Natural England and the Environment Agency.
This article first appeared in our sister title, the Daily Echo.
