n By Duncan Milligan


“So if we are going to introduce beavers, we need to understand how they’ll affect our water courses and habitats. But we also need to know how we are going to work around them, so that we don’t inadvertently or deliberately cause them problems.”


Caution, care and control are the watchwords. And there is little doubt beavers can be very beneficial.


They build dams, dig small canal- like passages of water and homes called lodges. They need waterways, vegetation and wood.


Despite spending a lot of time in water, they eat a plant-based diet, they don’t eat fish. Their ingrained talent for water engineering can stop soil erosion, improve water quality and limit flood risk.


Beavers can be our helpful, super rodents. The existing wild populations will be protected and allowed to expand, although this will be actively managed.


Return – Dr Campbell-Palmer and the team releasing a beaver


Tony Juniper, Chair of Natural England described the new move as a significant landmark for nature recovery in England. He said the new system was a careful and planned approach and highlighted the benefits of beavers.


Steve Leniec, Unite agricultural branch chair broadly welcomed the move and urged caution and education given the species has been absent for 400 years. Beavers are not a familiar sight and re-wilding also needs some re-learning on our part.


Steve told Landworker, “I’m in favour of rewilding when it’s appropriate, including the planned release programme of beavers. But I also think there needs to be quite a bit of education for the public and anyone who might encounter beavers and their habitat, in work especially.


“From what I read on the government website, once beavers are in place, they’ll have lots of protections. I think it would be easy for people to fall afoul of these protections.


“For example, when farmers are clearing out ditches and streams and so on, if they inadvertently clear out a beaver’s residence, they could be subject to prosecution.


“Beavers are environmental engineers,” he said. “The dams, ponds and canals they build not only create amazingly rich habitats for many other species, but can also help reduce flood risk, purify water and catch carbon.


“Under licence from Natural England, the release of wild beavers will be managed to secure the long-term environmental benefits while seeking to minimise and avoid unwanted impacts.”


The new policy statement from the department of environment, food and rural affairs signalled the new approach, setting out a licensing system for beaver releases into the wild. It has promised to consult on a long- term beaver management plan.


As well as backing conservation efforts it says it will support farmers and landowners. Defra says it wants to avoid adverse impacts on farming and food production.


39 uniteLANDWORKER Summer 2025


Nature minister Mary Creagh, announcing the move, described reintroducing beavers as “a critical milestone for this government’s plan to protect and restore our natural world.”


But an expanding rodent population (and beavers are large rodents) won’t be without its challenges. The beaver is a protected species in Britain.


Hilary McGrady, director general of the National Trust emphasised the monitoring and caution which will underpin the licensing process and the policy going forward.


“It’s important to us, and the communities we work in, that beaver releases across wider landscapes happen in a responsible, carefully managed way,” she said. “This licensing process is in everyone’s best interests.


“It will lead to well-chosen sites, minimise disruption to other landowners, and ensure local communities are fully consulted and involved enabling both people and nature to thrive.”


Environment agency chair Alan Lovell said the return of wild beavers has the potential to reduce flood risk and improve rivers and wetlands.


They could also boost biodiversity and build resilience to climate change through nature-based solutions.


“Beavers help reduce flooding in nearby towns, remove pollutants from our precious waterways and help to create clean water. Working alongside our partners, the environment agency will continue to support the careful management of wild beavers.”


Photo: XXXXXXX


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