Beavers Released in Somerset to Restore River and Wetland

Beavers have been legally released at two sites in Somerset as part of efforts to restore a river and wetland. The National Trust’s Holnicote Estate on Exmoor in Somerset was chosen as the location for the release, which involved a mother and her three children, as well as a pair of Eurasian beavers.

Natural England granted the National Trust its second license to release the species into the wild, following a successful release on the Purbeck Estate in Dorset earlier this year. The beavers were first introduced into enclosed areas of the Holnicote Estate in 2020.

Ben Eardley, project manager at the National Trust, expressed his excitement about the release, stating, “This is incredibly exciting and is the latest step in our ambitions to restore a huge swathe of Somerset countryside and moorland to help bring back nature. Beavers are extraordinary partners in our work to restore nature at scale.”

He highlighted the vital role that beavers play in slowing water flow, creating wetland habitats, reducing erosion, and improving water quality. Despite becoming extinct in Britain over 400 years ago, beavers have made their way back to England’s rivers and have been given legal protection.

Conservationists have long advocated for licensed wild returns of beavers to the wider English countryside to boost wildlife in the UK. However, concerns about potential impacts such as flooding and crop damage have also been raised.

Nature minister Mary Creagh praised the return of beavers to Somerset, stating, “These extraordinary creatures are brilliant for biodiversity, reduce flood risk, and improve water quality in our rivers. The return of beavers is a vital part of this Government’s mission to protect and restore nature.”