For the first time in centuries, beaver populations living wild along England’s rivers are permitted to expand, thanks to a long-awaited policy shift. But will the reality live up to expectation?
Back in February, we received the exciting news that the Westminster Government had committed to reintroducing beavers into the wild in England. This marked a move away from the previous system, which permitted release solely into enclosures, to one that finally aligns England with the Scottish approach to restoring the species to the wild.
Natural England (NE) – the wildlife licensing body for England – opened a two-month ‘expression of interest’ window in early March for anyone interested in applying for a wild beaver release licence. As we wait to hear which projects have been successful, we now urge NE not to limit the number of applications approved for the next stage of the process, but instead to focus on creating sustainable, healthy beaver populations across river catchments.
England is one of the most nature-depleted countries in the world, and our wetlands are no exception. At a time when we are seeing no let-up in the decline of wildlife, and as extreme weather events become more frequent, this is an important step that offers an opportunity for nature recovery and climate resilience. Beaver dam building activities create complex (therefore resilient) landscapes which reduce the impacts of drought, flooding and wildfire, and provide homes for an array of other wildlife, improving the health of the whole ecosystem. But, if we are to reap potential benefits, we need to be ambitious in our approach and move beyond a handful of animals.
England, unlike Scotland, has not yet developed a national beaver strategy, so it remains unclear whether the Government’s vision includes the restoration of beavers at the scale needed to achieve widespread benefits. Defra has committed to producing a “long-term management plan” which will set out the direction for beaver reintroduction in England. However, with publication expected in spring 2026 at the earliest, there is no clarity on the approach to be taken to releases taking place this winter and we must avoid further delay for the species.
We hope NE seizes this opportunity to bring back one of our most important ecosystem engineers. To do so, we recommend that they ensure:
- All feasible projects submitted through the expression of interest process are progressed and offered support
- Those deemed not feasible or needing work are given clear rationale as to rejection reasons or areas for improvement to improve viability (where applicable)
- Reconsider whether a full 10-year project plan and the current resourcing levels specified are truly necessary, with the goal of lowering the financial barriers to beaver reintroduction.
- Timelines for initial releases and the next expression of interest window are published as soon as possible
All of which will help maintain momentum and provide clarity to both potential project owners and the organisations working to support best practice and welfare considerations for these animals.
As an organisation, Beaver Trust has decades of experience in translocating and managing beavers, witnessing first-hand the knock-on effect of policy delay and the need for clarity and consistency on guidelines for all involved. Our team is out year-round supporting successful renewed coexistence with beavers and we see the need for strong national governance.
So we look forward to continuing to support the Government, Natural England, partners and landowners with this process. We also welcome enquiries from any projects requiring feasibility work and will keep our followers updated as this process develops.
The restoration of wild beavers to English waterways could be a huge success story for nature and for people, and a vital step in the species’ recovery across Britain if rolled out effectively. At Beaver Trust, we hope this marks a strong step toward beavers making a permanent comeback and being recognised as an integral, natural part of our landscape.