Natural England has approved the release of beavers at two projects in South West England, in what has been described as the latest milestone in the species’ managed return.
The move follows the first licensed release of wild Eurasian beavers in Dorset last year, after a government decision ended centuries in which the animals were absent from English waterways.
The return of the species has come in recent years through licensed enclosure schemes and a limited reintroduction under the River Otter Beaver Trial, led by Devon Wildlife Trust, which ran from 2015 to 2020 to assess their ecological impact.
During the trial, beavers were released into the River Otter catchment and some of its tributaries, and by the end of the study there were multiple family groups spread throughout the area.
Chief executive of Natural England, Marian Spain, said the reintroduction of beavers to South West England was “a significant milestone” with the potential to make “a huge difference to nature recovery in the region”.
“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,” she said.
Beavers are considered a keystone species because of the changes they make to rivers and surrounding land. By building dams, they can create wetlands that support a wide range of wildlife and influence water levels, helping to reduce the impact of flood and droughts, and improve water quality in our rivers.
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In 2020 the UK government confirmed that the River Otter beavers could remain in the wild and expand naturally, making it one of the first legally recognised wild beaver populations in England following their extinction in the 16th century.
However, Vicky and David Lawrence, a couple from Ottery St Mary who own a dairy farm as well as a glamping business, are highly critical of releasing beavers in the River Otter, saying the aquatic rodents have caused widespread damage on their land.
Vicky said: “In one area of our land they have caused devastation. It should be full of trees all the way around, but all they’ve left is tree stumps. I do not understand how people can argue that this is beneficial to our landscape.
“The beavers are spreading further away from the main river, taking down larger hardwood trees such as oak trees. River banks have started to be undermined and are crumbling, and field access points are becoming inaccessible due to flooding."
David added: “The beavers slowed water down in the headwaters, but when it flooded on the flats around Ottery St Mary, there were dams in places that would have been a natural water release.”
Author and conservationist Derek Gow, who has championed the reintroduction of the beaver in Britain for many years, said it was a "shame" the couple were experiencing issues.
"It is a shame because they were hugely supportive of the project at the beginning," said Mr Gow, who also runs a farm in Devon.
"I am not aware of the circumstances that pertain to this. You can protect trees with wire mesh guards, but in the end, you can't protect everything. Beavers will dig burrows, and the burrows will go underground."
However, he stressed the need for sensitive and sensible management of the species.
He said: "The case for having them in the landscape is scientifically sound, but equally, so is the case for managing them in a way that is sensitive and sensitive for people that live in that environment."
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