- Two beavers have been introduced into a hidden valley cared for by the National Trust, on the flanks of the South Downs
- First introduction by the National Trust in south east England
- Local supporters have helped fund the scheme, on land that was bought by local people to be donated to the Trust
- Aim is for beavers to once again become an important and integral part of the ecological system, contributing to the diversity of wildlife, as nature’s waterway engineers
- The release is part of the Trust’s strategy to restore a healthier natural environment and to improve 25,000 hectares (an area the size of 47,000 football pitches) of land for wildlife by 2025
No doubt they’ll be heading down to the local supermarket soon where they won’t head to the fish counter but will be looking for chips?
This is excellent news.
Meanwhile in Scotland, the Scottish Government continues to licence the killing of beavers rather than translocate them. Very short sighted.
The irony is that the beavers being released probably came from the Scottish population. It is to be hoped that the legal challenge, against the killing, brought by Trees for Life will be successful.
Well done National Trust. Good to hear they are taking the initiative on wildlife. As others have said it is deplorable that Natural Scotland and Natural England are so keen on killing our wildlife
Apparently Narnian Beavers eat jam roly poly and custard, read that somewhere once.
So great to see the public support that beavers are getting. Imagine getting the chance to be on a conservation task in the uplands that was to plant riparian trees to help wildlife and reduce flood risk, and in a few years time allow beavers to return dramatically amplifying those original plus points? The scope for public involvement is bloody enormous, I’m sure many companies would pay for their staff to do team building/corporate social responsibility days out doing some targeted tree planting on what are currently tree less moors if it was linked to reducing flood risk, helping wildlife, bringing back the beaver. That’s one hell of a deal. Attractive and accessible to far more people than would ever shoot driven grouse.