An organisation that protects a uncommon animal has been handed a lift.
The Dumfries and Galloway Pine Marten Group has obtained their first batch of den packing containers because of the efforts of volunteers at Glenkens Males’s Shed.
The packing containers will likely be put in throughout the area to assist the pine martens, that are present process one thing of a renaissance in Dumfries and Galloway.
Having been extinct, a reintroduction programme came about 40 years in the past and their numbers at the moment are growing.
And that has added advantages for crimson squirrels, with pine martens serving to to suppress gray squirrels.
The Dumfries and Galloway Pine Marten Group was arrange final yr and the den field venture has the backing of each Kilgallioch Wind Farm Neighborhood Fund and the Galloway Glens Scheme.
They’ll quickly obtain an additional batch of packing containers from Gatehouse Males’s Shed.
Group chairman, Dr Stephanie Johnstone, stated: “The volunteers on the Glenkens and Gatehouse Mens Sheds have been superb, and it's because of their ability, onerous work and volunteer time that we now have this superb retailer of den packing containers prepared to put in throughout Galloway.
“This work has been potential because of funding that we've obtained from the Galloway Glens Panorama Partnership and the Kilgallioch Wind Farm Neighborhood Fund.
“We've been so happy with the help that our pine marten conservation work has obtained from people, organisations and communities throughout Dumfries and Galloway.
“Our volunteers are trying ahead to getting out within the forests over the approaching months and putting in these new properties prepared for pine martens to take up residence.”
Glenkens Males’s Shed secretary, Tom Leach, stated: “Members of the shed have, during the last couple of months, labored very onerous to provide 20 nesting packing containers.
At occasions it has concerned loads of house juggling and adaptation, however we persevered and just lately Stephanie and the group got here to gather the completed packing containers.
“They had been delighted by what the shed members had finished. We stay up for listening to how properly and shortly the pine martens colonise their new pads.”
The Glenkens Males’s Shed is open in Balmaclellan on Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings from 9.30am to 12.30pm. New members are welcome to drop in.
The group hopes to increase opening hours to a weekend and probably evenings, with the Wednesday afternoon woodworking group low on numbers. Newcomers are welcome to come back alongside between 2pm and 4pm.
McNabb Laurie, group chief of the Galloway Glens scheme which helped fund the pine marten dens, stated: “With growing numbers of sightings throughout Galloway of pine martens, this den field venture ought to work in direction of the additional restoration of the species.
“Our congratulations go to all of the volunteers within the Dumfries and Galloway Pine Marten Group for getting the venture beneath means and large because of the Glenkens Males’s Shed – themselves a earlier recipient of a Galloway Glens grant – for making the packing containers to such a formidable customary.”