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Between 2017 and 2019 21 beavers were released at Knapdale Forest in Argyll, Scotland to reinforce the population, originally established between 2009 and 2014. Before the release, numbers were dwindling and there was concern that the population might die out. There was also worries about the genetic diversity in the remaining beavers. However, as aContinue Reading

9/9/20 Natural Resources Wales (NRW) has said that an application by Montgomeryshire Wildlife Trust to release the beavers into an enclosure built by the side of the River Dyfi owned by the Trust should provisionally be approved. The plan is to release up to six beavers into an enclosure at Cors Dyfi Nature Reserve, near Machynlleth.ThisContinue Reading

NatureScot (formerly Scottish Natural Heritage) together with the University of Exeter will start a new survey of beavers in Scotland on October 1st. The survey will map the distribution  of active territories and assess the health of the population. The survey will cover  the River Tay and adjoining catchments such as the Forth and riversContinue Reading

A recent paper published in Ecological Applications by Emily Fairfax and Andrew Whittle provides evidence that wetlands and diverse riparian corridors created by beavers can resist fire and protect wildlife. Ben Goldfard has reported on this work in an article for National Geographic. This is another example of the benefits of the activities of beaversContinue Reading

About this book, NHBS says, “Bringing Back the Beaver is farmer-turned-ecologist Derek Gow’s inspirational and often riotously funny firsthand account of how the movement to rewild the British landscape with beavers has become the single most dramatic and subversive nature conservation act of the modern era. Since the early 1990s – in the face ofContinue Reading

After consulting with 39 organisations ranging from farming and forestry represntatives to conservation groups, The Beaver Trust has written to Government ministers proposing a national  beaver strategy for England. The strategy involves  a national framework for licenses, releases, protection and management. Not all organisations support the proposals, but all agree to be involved in futureContinue Reading

A landmark decision by the Government announced today is that the colony of wild beavers living on the River Otter in Devon, SW England will be allowed to stay. This is the culmination of a 5 years reintroduction study on the River Otter run by Devon Wildlife Trust with the help of many scientists andContinue Reading

There is general concern about a high level of culling of beavers on the River Tay with numbers of around 100 being mentioned in the press (e.g. The Ferret). Official numbers killed under licence in 2019 are to be published by Scottish Natural Heritage soon. As a rule, licences for lethal control would only beContinue Reading

The Cornwall Beaver Project at Woodland Valley Farm, managed by farm owner Chris Jones and Cornwall Wildlife Trust, is currently featured on BBC Springwatch. The first of several vists to the project, hosted by Gillian Burke, took place in the programme aired on 26th May 2020, with others to follow. All details can be foundContinue Reading

It has been reported that large numbers of beavers (maybe up to 100) were legally killed by landowners and farmers in  Tayside, Scotland last year (The Ferret, BirdGuides), most between August and December.  Beavers were given legal protection in Scotland on May 1st 2019, and  now a licence must be obtained to control them. ScottishContinue Reading