Two pairs of beavers released legally onto Dorset's Purbeck Heaths
It's part of a Government plan to reintroduce the species
Two pairs of Eurasian beavers are making their home in Dorset from today (Wednesday 5th March), after being legally released into the wild.
The National Trust has brought the animals to Purbeck Heath, as part of a plan from the Government's Defra department, and Natural England.
Beavers will be roaming freely in the Dorset countryside for the first time since the 16th century, after being hunted to extinction in the UK.
It's thought they'll play a crucial role in ecosystem restoration, with their natural dams helping to improve water quality.
The beavers at Little Sea, which is part of England’s first Super National Nature Reserve have been relocated from Scotland.
Gen Crisford, Beaver Project Officer at Purbeck at the National Trust, shared her delight: “As a true believer in beavers, today is incredibly exciting, a real watershed moment in the history of the species in England.
“We have worked closely with Natural England for the past seven years to develop an approach for a licensed release of beavers into the Purbeck landscape.
“Our chosen site at Little Sea is highly suitable for these special creatures due to it being an expansive body of fresh water surrounded by dense willow woodland which will provide the beavers with plenty of food.
“As the lake is already deep enough, they won’t need to build dams initially, but by creating glades within the willow woodland, new areas of open wetlands will form to benefit many of the reserve’s rare species including water voles, keeled skimmer dragonflies and tiny ‘bladderwort’ carnivorous plants.
“Little Sea is at the heart of the 3,400 ha Purbeck Heaths Super National Nature Reserve making it an ideal landscape for the beavers to spread so that people can learn to co-exist with the mammals again.
“Beavers can sometimes cause conflict when they colonise areas where they aren’t wanted, but by working with all the local landowners in advance to plan for their arrival and put measures in place where needed, we are confident that in Purbeck we will be able to demonstrate how beavers can work for everyone.
“Thanks to our previous licensed, fenced reintroductions of beavers at other National Trust sites, we have learnt a lot and have seen first-hand the benefits these clever mammals can bring, and how they can contribute massively to targets for nature recovery.”
Nature Minister Mary Creagh said: "I am thrilled that, after being hunted to extinction centuries ago, wild beavers are finally here to stay. Today is an important milestone for national nature recovery.
“Beavers are ecosystem engineers who bring multiple benefits for people, for wildlife and for landscapes. They are a keystone species and create thriving wetlands for wildlife, reduce flood risk and improve the water quality of our rivers.”
This wild release is the fourth site where the National Trust has introduced beavers, following successful enclosed reintroductions at Holnicote Estate on Exmoor, the South Downs, and Wallington.
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