Evidence of beavers living on Dorset's River Stour
The county's Wildlife Trust has called it an 'exciting' discovery
Beavers are living on the River Stour in Dorset, with the county's Wildlife Trust spotting signs of them being there.
They've noticed feeding areas, and trees felled by them near Gillingham, but aren't sure of the numbers and distribution here.
Eurasian beavers (Castor fiber) are making a comeback in the UK.
In October 2022 they were officially recognised as a resident native species in England once again and afforded European protective status having previously been hunted to extinction over 400 years ago.
The origin of the beavers in the Dorset Stour is unknown, although there are beavers living in neighbouring river catchments to the north in Somerset and animals could have made their way through the landscape.
Bob Messer, Co-ordinator of Gillingham Action for Nature Group (GANG) said:
“It’s very exciting to find one of the forty native black poplar we planted in 2011 felled by a beaver and to see other beaver signs in our local nature reserve managed by GANG. Beavers are the original coppicers who promote much needed diversity amongst tree growth and its great encouragement for our conservation work. We have had talks about the positive effects of beavers on wildlife from research on the River Otter catchment in Devon. We can now dream of the same effects here in North Dorset.”
The return of beavers can have multiple benefits, not just for other wildlife living in the freshwater habitats where beavers are active.
Living in a human-modified landscape, however, does present challenges to both beavers and humans as we all learn to coexist once again.
To support communities living alongside beavers, the Dorset Catchment Partnership has set up a Beaver Management Group to maximize the benefits of beavers returning, whilst helping to reduce conflict or any potential negative impacts.
Dorset Wildlife Trust’s Rivers Conservation Officer, Steve Oliver said:
“We should have all grown up alongside beavers, but sadly we haven’t. Beaver Management Groups provide important initial support to communities who are learning to live alongside beavers once again.”
The group will hold several drop-in sessions in the area in the coming months so that members of the public can come along and learn about beavers, the local management group and discuss how local communities would like to be engaged in the future.
The drop-in session dates will be:
Monday 15th July. 3.00pm – 8.00pm Vicarage School Rooms, Gillingham
Wednesday 31st July, 3.00pm – 8.00pm The Exchange, Sturminster Newton
Wednesday 7th August 3.00pm - 8.00pm National Trust Kingston Lacy, Wimborne Minster