More support needed for landowners to enable beavers’ return, say The Wildlife Trusts and Beaver Trust.

Today, The Wildlife Trusts and Beaver Trust are celebrating as beavers are now officially recognised as a native species in England and a European protected species. The new law, which came into force at midnight last night, is good news for this extraordinary mammal which can do so much to restore wetlands across Britain.

The Wildlife Trusts pioneered the reintroduction of beavers and are now calling for greater clarity and urgency from the Government in relation to the plans for the widespread return of the animals.

The Government published guidance in early September which outlines how beavers might be managed in the future. But both Beaver Trust and The Wildlife Trusts are concerned that it does not give sufficient support to landowners – and that the proposals lack ambition and detail. The charities warn that, in their current form, the plans will not deliver the widespread reintroduction of a species which scientific studies have shown can improve water quality in rivers, stabilise water flows during times of drought and flood, store carbon and boost other wildlife.

In 2015 Devon Wildlife Trust led a successful trial on the River Otter in Devon where England’s first wild population of beavers were reintroduced – 400 years after their extinction due to hunting and habitat loss. This trial was a great success and the Government subsequently agreed that the beavers on the River Otter could remain in the wild and spread naturally to other rivers.

Harry Barton, Devon Wildlife Trust’s Chief Executive, says:

“A summer of record-breaking heat and drought has highlighted the urgency of making our landscapes more resilient to the unfolding climate emergency. Beavers have created green oases in our parched river valleys, because of their ability to store water through dam building and wetland creation. And we know they can reduce peak flows in times of flood and help improve water quality.

“The Government’s recent announcements on protection for beavers and their management are good news, but they lack clarity and a sense of urgency. We need a clear plan and timetable so these amazing animals can become part of the wildlife of rivers throughout England.”

Sandra King, Chief Executive of Beaver Trust, commented:

“Beavers bring such an astonishing array of ecosystem services to our landscape, this truly is an historic day for the species in England. It is thanks to the hard work and determination of pioneering individuals and wildlife organisations that the recovery of this once-native animal is able to celebrate this milestone.

“It remains urgent and vital that the Government delivers a clear, ambitious policy and licensing guidance to support beaver restoration in the wild. At the end of the day, if we are to welcome beavers back as a native animal our primary objective must be to target positive coexistence with beavers. A properly resourced, forward looking strategy will enable land managers and communities to do this.”

The Wildlife Trusts and Beaver Trust backed this call in a letter to Ranil Jayawardena, Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. This asked Government to take five key actions to ensure beaver reintroductions can take place on a scale and at a pace which will bring maximum advantage to wider society.

These actions include:

1. Publishing an ambitious strategy and timeline for beaver reintroduction in English river catchments.
2. Reconsidering the proposals for funding beaver releases into the wild. At present these impose prohibitive levels of upfront costs on groups wanting to reintroduce beaver populations.
3. Establishing a system of financial support which will reward the farmers and landowners who provide space for beavers and their wetlands.
4. Putting in place and then resourcing a network of Beaver Management Groups across England to support farmers, landowners and local communities as new beaver populations become established.
5. Confirming the futures of existing wild living beaver populations (including the Tamar in Devon and the Stour in Kent) to add to those in the River Otter, Devon.

Ali Morse, water policy manager of The Wildlife Trusts, says:

“The Government’s recent consultation on the future of beavers in England showed significant support for their widespread reintroduction. Of more than 3,000 responses nearly 70% were positive about Defra’s plans for the return of beavers. Even among the minority who objected the most common reason given was that the pace of Government plans for their return was too slow.

“The return of beavers to rivers across England has public support and is in line with the Governments own commitments enshrined in its 25-year Environment Plan and the legally binding target of its Environment Act 2021 to halt nature’s decline. What we need now is action.”

Four centuries after their extinction in Britain, beavers have returned to Mapperton Estate in West Dorset.

As part of the Mapperton Wildlands project, a pair of adult beavers have been relocated from Scotland to an eight-acre enclosure in woodlands near Mapperton House, home to Luke and Julie Montagu, Viscount and Viscountess Hinchingbrooke.

The pair, a 15kg male and 20kg female, were captured in the same location on the Tay river and brought down to Mapperton last week.

The fenced enclosure, which includes grilles across the stream bed, has been funded by a grant from Farming in Protected Landscapes (FiPL), a programme under the Dorset AONB. Further support comes from Natural England’s Seedcorn Funding.

Before their arrival, Mapperton’s Ranger/Keeper Ben Padwick was busy building a lodge for the new arrivals as well as constructing the beginnings of dams in the stream.

The beavers soon made themselves at home, moved into their new abode and enjoyed the feast of apples left for them.

Ben Padwick says: “It’s been very exciting preparing for the beavers to arrive. I have been busy clearing the old pheasant pen, creating dams, and even building them a home – and we are delighted to see them using it!

“We are looking forward to seeing their positive impact on the landscape and to giving guided tours around the enclosure to members of the public.

“It’s an incredible achievement for all the team and everyone involved with the project. Releasing a keystone species back here at Mapperton Wildlands is a huge milestone for us, especially as they have been absent from the landscape for such a long time.”

Beavers are a native British species which were hunted to extinction around 400 years ago.  They were prized for fur, meat and their castoreum glands which were used for medicines and scents.

They are known as “eco-system engineers” for the transformative impact they have on their surroundings and all the other species that live there. Their impressive dam-building skills help with flood alleviation and create new wetland habitats for invertebrates and the birds that feed on them.

 A major five-year study on the River Otter in Devon into the impacts of beavers on the English countryside concluded that the water-living mammals can bring numerous measurable benefits to people and wildlife.

Luke Montagu, Viscount Hinchingbrooke, says: “The arrival of beavers is a major milestone for our rewilding project Mapperton Wildlands.  They are such impressive animals and within a few days have already got to work building dams and creating new wetland.

“And while we recognise that they can cause problems when not properly managed, our beavers are safely contained in a well-constructed enclosure.

“We really look forward to inviting visitors to come and see the positive impact they will have on the landscape over the coming months and years.”

Roisin Campbell-Palmer, Restoration Manager at Beaver Trust added: “We’re delighted to support the Mapperton Estate in their rewilding ventures and particularly to see the beavers settling in well, in this first translocation of the season. 

“As the species’ restoration efforts continue, we hope to see beavers accepted back in the countryside like any other native wild species, particularly as they have a positive and important role to play in nature’s recovery and British wildlife resilience.”

The next guided tour of Mapperton Wildlands – including the beaver enclosure – will take place on Sunday 2 October.  Please see mappertonwildlands.com for more details.