Beavers Set for Release at Two South West England Locations
Natural England has granted two new licences for the release of beavers in south-west England, advancing efforts to reintroduce the species into the wild after an absence of more than four centuries. The semi-aquatic animals, known for their landscape engineering through dams, ponds, and channels, are poised to enhance biodiversity and mitigate flooding and drought impacts.
Licensed Releases at Exmoor and Cornwall
One release will occur at the National Trust's Holnicote Estate in Exmoor, while Cornwall Wildlife Trust will oversee another in central Cornwall. These projects represent the second and third licensed releases since the Government's landmark decision last year to permit beavers' return to England's waterways, where they vanished over 400 years ago due to hunting for pelts, meat, and glands.
The first licensed release of wild Eurasian beavers took place in March 2025 at the Purbeck Heaths National Nature Reserve in Dorset, setting a precedent for these new initiatives.
Government and Conservation Support
Nature minister Mary Creagh emphasised the importance of this move, stating, "The return of beavers is a vital part of this Government's mission to protect and restore nature. I look forward to these projects getting going and more future beaver releases." Beavers have gradually reappeared in England through escapes and illegal releases, gaining legal protection in 2022, and have been introduced to various fenced sites.
Conservationists have long advocated for licensed wild returns to boost UK wildlife, though concerns persist about potential flooding of roads, properties, and farmland, as well as damage to crops like maize and cricket bat willow.
Managed Reintroduction and Community Engagement
Natural England is carefully managing the reintroduction to minimise conflicts with farming, food production, and infrastructure. Wild release projects must demonstrate 10-year plans before licences are considered. Marian Spain, chief executive of Natural England, highlighted, "The successful return of beavers depends on well-planned, collaborative projects built on engagement and trust, and we are committed to getting it right for both nature and communities."
Natural England has identified 32 potential projects meeting wild release criteria, with 11 already invited to apply. Ben McCarthy, head of nature conservation at the National Trust, praised the licence for the Exmoor release, noting it builds on successes from fenced enclosures in 2020 and the Purbeck release. He added, "We've witnessed the beavers' extraordinary ability to create rich wetlands that support wildlife, improve water quality, and help slow and store water in the landscape. We'll continue to engage farmers and the local community every step of the way."
Challenges and Future Prospects
Conservationists warn that the redesign of nature-friendly farming incentives is crucial for the programme's success. Vicki Hird, the Wildlife Trusts' strategic lead on agriculture, stressed, "For beavers' return to be effectively facilitated, it is vital that decisions on redesigning the sustainable farming incentive (SFI) farm payments do not remove options which support farmers to coexist with beavers. Without such SFI options, opportunities for nature recovery and ecosystem services will be missed."
This reintroduction marks a significant milestone in UK conservation, aiming to restore a keystone species while balancing ecological benefits with community and agricultural needs.
