First beavers released by the National Trust are set free in a 2.7 hectare patch of Somerset woodland to help flood management and improve biodiversity
- National Trust to release three pairs of beavers in Somerset and West Sussex
- First pair of beavers was today released at the Holnicote Estate in Somerset
- They will live in a fenced off 2.7-hectare patch of unmanaged woodland
An adult pair of Eurasian beavers have been released on a National Trust estate on Exmoor.
The male and female were released on the Holnicote Estate in Somerset in order to help with flood management and improve biodiversity, the charity claims.
Beavers became extinct on mainland Britain in the 16th century due to hunting and are now present in only a handful of sites across the country.
Various reintroduction programmes are in place but this is the first pair to be released by the National Trust.
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An adult pair of Eurasian beavers have been released on a National Trust estate on Exmoor. The male and female were released on the Holnicote Estate in Somerset (file photo)
The beavers released in Somerset have been relocated from wild populations on the River Tay catchment in Scotland, under licence from Scottish Natural Heritage (file photo)
The beavers released in Somerset have been relocated from wild populations on the River Tay catchment in Scotland, under licence from Scottish Natural Heritage.
They were let into a 2.7 hectare fenced area of unmanaged woodland on the estate in the first release by the National Trust.
Ben Eardley, project manager for the National Trust at Holnicote, said: ‘As ecosystem engineers the beavers will develop wetland habitat, increasing the variety and richness of wildlife in the local landscape.
‘Their presence in our river catchments is a sustainable way to help make our landscape more resilient to climate change and the extremes of weather it will bring.
‘The dams the beavers create will slow the flow, holding water in dry periods which will reduce the impact of drought. They will help to lessen flash-flooding downstream, reducing erosion and improving water quality by holding silt and pollutants.
‘Although we are introducing a species that used to live here in the wild, this project is all about developing our landscapes of the future, helping us respond to the challenges the landscape and communities now face.’
The National Trust announced in November 2019 its plans to begin releasing beavers.
Once settled in the estate, the beavers will build a lodge or burrow and begin to modify the enclosure to suit their needs.
The National Trust says the releases will be carefully monitored by staff and volunteers, with help from Exeter University and others to document changes to the habitat.
The beavers were let into a 2.7 hectare fenced area of unmanaged woodland on the estate in the first release by the National Trust (file photo)
Beavers are found throughout the UK. The animals live as far north as Bamff, Scotland and as south as Nankilly Water in Cornwall
BEAVERS: ‘FRIENDS’ OR ‘FOES’?
There is some contention as to whether Beavers should indeed be released into the wild. The points on either side of the argument include the following:
FOR REINTRODUCTION
The UK’s wetland fauna and flora evolved alongside beavers.
They reduce siltation, which can pollute waterways with silt and clay.
Their dam-like habitats help to reduce downstream flooding after heavy rain.
Beavers make ponds, which are needed by two-thirds of UK wildlife.
The public is in favour of restoring the animals to the wild.
AGAINST REINTRODUCTION
UK rivers have changed dramatically since beavers went extinct.
British waterways are in poor health, potentially putting beavers at risk.
Beavers can spread a foreign tapeworm to both humans and dogs.
They can damage both infrastructure and local forests.
Dams can sometimes exacerbate, rather than prevent, flooding.
Mark Harold, director of land and nature at the conservation charity, said: ‘We need to work with natural processes in the right places.
‘This is a different way of managing sites for wildlife – a new approach, using a native animal as a tool.
‘The development of a more natural river system; the slowing, filtering and storing of water, can develop a complex mosaic of habitats which are not only good for nature, but for people too.’
The beavers were trapped under licence from Scottish Natural Heritage by consultant ecologist Dr Roisin Campbell-Palmer and were health-screened and quarantined by Five Sisters Zoo in West Lothian.
They have been examined by wildlife vets and specialists and met all screening requirements, according to Defra standards and Natural England licence conditions.
The only way of legally releasing beavers in England is into an enclosure licensed by Natural England.
Ben Ross, beaver project manager at Scottish Natural Heritage, said: ‘Beavers can have hugely positive impacts on nature and people, creating habitats such as ponds and wetlands where other species thrive, as well as moderating water flows and improving water quality.
‘We wish the project every success and look forward to supporting similar projects elsewhere to realise the many benefits that beavers can provide.’
HOW AND WHY DO BEAVERS BUILD DAMS?
Beavers are found across the northern hemisphere and are among planet’s most skilled builders.
This reputation has earnt them the nickname ‘nature’s engineers’.
They fell trees by gnawing at their trunks and use the resulting sticks to construct dams to stop the movement of water in ponds, lakes, rivers and streams – creating a bodies of water with a low current.
The mammals then use sticks and mud to create a second structure – a large dome-shaped island that can reach as high as ten feet (3m) tall and up to 1,600ft (500m) long.
Each island includes two underwater entrances and a living chamber above water where the animals sleep and shelter.
Beavers often line the walls of this chamber with dry leaves and plants to insulate it during winter.
It remains unclear exactly why beavers build dams, but scientists speculate the creatures use it for warmth and shelter in the winter and as protection from predators.
Beavers are strong swimmers, and creating a reservoir of water allows the animals to play to their strengths to escape those higher in the food chain.
The biggest beaver dam ever discovered measured 2,790ft (850m) – more than twice the length of the Hoover dam.
The woodland construction, found in the southern edge of Wood Buffalo National Park in Northern Alberta, Canada, was so expansive it could be seen from space.
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