Could beavers be reintroduced to Radnorshire?

According to the Radnorshire Wildlife Trust, seeing beavers in the area will become common.

It comes after the Welsh Government’s decision to officially recognise European beavers as a native species and award them full legal protection, which the Wildlife Trusts in Wales highly commends. Beavers have already received protection status in Scotland and England.

The announcement of the decision was made by Deputy First Minister, Huw Irranca-Davies. Beavers have a natural behaviour which can help restore and manage rivers and freshwater habitats for the benefit of wildlife and people. Their protection will make it illegal to deliberately harm beavers or damage their habitats.

Speaking to The Brecon and Radnor Express, a spokesperson for the Radnorshire Wildlife Trust said: “The Welsh Beaver Project works across the five Wildlife Trusts in Wales and the project has been in discussions with Radnorshire Wildlife Trust about opportunities for the return of beavers in the area either through licensed releases or natural dispersal. Beavers are starting to naturally disperse across Britain and in time we will start to see beavers in Radnorshire. Our 20-year vision for the River Lugg as part of our Wilder Lugg project includes beavers because they will play a key role in continuing the amazing restoration work that is taking place on the river.”

A survey by the University of Exeter in 2023 found that 88.70% of respondents in Wales supported beavers returning to the wild and 83.72% wanted them to have ‘strong legal protection’.

Through the Welsh Beaver Project, the Wildlife Trusts in Wales have been working for 20 years to successfully restore wild beavers to the Welsh landscape and this decision marks the most significant step to date in achieving that vision.

The Wildlife Trusts in Wales is also joining the proposed Wales Beaver Forum, which aims to help ensure that sufficient support for landholders and beaver managers is in place to guarantee that timely management can occur, to enjoy all the benefits beavers bring, such as improving river water quality, stabilising water flows, storing carbon and helping other wildlife, whilst avoiding any major adverse impacts to land-use or infrastructure.

Through the Living With Beavers In The Dyfi Catchment Project, the Welsh Beaver Project is currently developing a volunteer Beaver Management Network. This is funded by the Nature Networks Fund, which is delivered by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, on behalf of the Welsh Government and in partnership with Natural Resources Wales.

Alicia Leow-Dyke, Welsh Beaver Project Officer, said: “To fully realise the benefits of beavers, while also supporting land managers by addressing any local challenges, it is essential to have legal protections in place alongside an effective management framework. This announcement marks a huge milestone in the re-establishment of wild beavers to Wales.”

Joyce Watson MS, Senedd Species Champion for Beavers, said: “I was delighted by the Minister’s strong response to my debate. He confirmed that the government plans to bring forward legislation to give protected status to beavers in Wales. As Beaver Champion for Wales, I recently joined the Welsh Beaver Project team at Cors Dyfi near Machynlleth, where an enclosure supports a family of beavers. At a time when our rivers are under threat, beavers could be critical to improving water quality and reducing flood risks. They are amazing eco-engineers – re-establishing sustainable populations could breathe new life into our water systems, for the benefit of wildlife and people. Beavers have been extinct in Wales since Tudor times, yet consultation shows tremendous public support for their reintroduction – Wales is eager for beavers!”