Beavers are set to be released in the Forest of Dean in plans confirmed by the Environment Secretary and the Forestry Commission - scientists believe the beavers may be able to hold back enough water to help with flood alleviation for Lydbrook by quickly constructing natural dam structures and creating new habitat.
The project, which has also been approved by Natural England, will see two adult beavers and two kits released into a 6.5 hectare secure enclosure to help improve biodiversity and build dams and ponds from next year.
Driven from England 400 years ago, beavers were reintroduced in Devon in 2015. The beavers in the trial will be released in the Forest of Dean in spring 2018.
The trial could be the first of many such schemes – the Government has published new guidance setting out a new framework for assessing applications for further trial releases across England.
Beavers can only be released as part of a trial to look into issues relevant to the reintroduction of beavers to England - Natural England will consider applications to release beavers into secured enclosures on a case-by-case basis.
In addition to the application requirements, applicants will need to provide a management plan covering:
- design and construction of the enclosure
- enclosure maintenance
- monitoring of beavers within the enclosure
- measures to prevent escapes and to recapture any animals that do escape (including provisions to deal with any damage causes)
- exit strategy setting out what will happen to the beavers at the end of the project (or if the project is terminated early).
Environment Secretary Michael Gove said:
“The beaver has a special place in English heritage and the Forest of Dean proposal is a fantastic opportunity to help bring this iconic species back to the countryside 400 years after it was driven to extinction. The community of Lydbrook has shown tremendous support for this proposal and the beavers are widely believed to be a welcome addition to local wildlife.”
The Environment Secretary will visit a similar scheme run by the Devon Wildlife Trust in December where he will see first-hand the new dams, pools and other dramatic changes that have resulted from releasing two beavers on a 200 metre stretch of waterway in North Devon.
The Forestry Commission will continue to give updates as the project develops. It will also closely monitor the ecology and hydrology of the scheme throughout the trial which will help to understand the longer-term impacts and benefits to the local environment.
Driven from England 400 years ago, beavers were reintroduced in Devon in 2015. The beavers will be released in the Forest of Dean in spring 2018.
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