Wildlife

UK Marsh Tit Conservation and Woodland Decline

Conservation of marsh tits in UK deciduous woodland and the factors driving their population decline.

Key Facts

Marsh tit populations have declined by over 70% since the 1970s
They are closely associated with mature deciduous woodland with shrubby understory
Marsh tits cache food and have outstanding spatial memory
Loss of woodland understory through deer browsing is linked to their decline
Marsh tits are often confused with willow tits but have different habitat preferences

Welfare Considerations

Individual marsh tits depend on mature deciduous woodland with diverse understory structure, with deer management and woodland management directly influencing their welfare.

What You Can Do

Support woodland conservation with deer management programmes
Record marsh tit sightings to assist population monitoring
Advocate for deer management requirements in woodland grant conditions