There’s big news in “beaver world” this weekend, as the government announces a new policy and licensing system to enable the release of beavers into the wild in England. 

This is a really positive step towards restoring this key native species to Britain and realising the many benefits it could bring for both people and wildlife. Key to the success of future reintroductions will be a full assessment of the potential benefits and risks associated with beaver activity in a proposed catchment, and working with communities to manage them. 

In Gloucestershire, we are working with local stakeholders to determine whether it would be feasible to reintroduce free-living beaver in any of our catchments. Whether a reintroduction would be feasible at a local level depends on many factors, including public opinions, ecological interactions, environmental impacts, animal welfare, and existing land uses. Due to be published in summer 2025, the feasibility study will provide an initial evidence base to help guide any future decisions on local beaver reintroductions and management.

As ecosystem engineers, beavers have immense potential to enhance the health and biodiversity of our landscapes, and to mitigate the effects of climate change. It’s also true that sometimes beaver activity can have unwanted effects on existing land management practices and infrastructure. We are committed to taking a balanced, evidence-led approach to our assessment, identifying the potential risks associated with beaver activity in Gloucestershire as well as the potential advantages, and inviting locals to have their say. Should a future reintroduction be attempted by any organisation, careful and long-term planning would be necessary in order to maximise the benefits of beaver activity while minimising the chances of conflict. Central to the success of this approach would be working with stakeholders to create a management strategy tailored to the local area. 

There are many effective ways to manage conflicts between beavers and humans, from creating buffer strips along watercourses to protecting trees with fencing or wire guards, or installing devices to alter the water level behind a dam. More information can be found at beavermanagement.org. 

The management of beaver impacts has come to the fore in recent media coverage, after NFU President Tom Bradshaw called for farmers to be allowed to use lethal control against beavers should they be released into the wild. A 5-step approach to managing beavers has been established in government guidance since 2022, following a national consultation on the future of free-living beavers. This “management hierarchy” includes the licensed use of lethal control as a last-resort method for managing beavers, after other options have been fully considered. A management strategy adhering to this approach would almost certainly be a key requirement of any wild-release licence. 

Keep an eye out for future updates on GWT’s feasibility report and plans, and please do get in touch with us via beavers@gloucestershirewildlifetrust.co.uk if you have any questions about our work on beavers. 

Dee Durham - Beaver Feasibility Coordinator