England beaver release scheme welcomed

Shropshire Wildlife Trust has welcomed plans by the government to reintroduce beavers into the wild in England as a trial scheme takes place in Shrewsbury.

A bonded pair of Eurasian beavers were released into at the Old River Bed nature reserve in the town last month.

They will be monitored by volunteers and camera traps during the five-year project.

The government announced on Friday that the animals would be released more widely across England under a licensing system overseen by Natural England.

They were hunted to extinction in Britain 400 years ago, but in recent years have been making a comeback, particularly in Scotland.

In Shrewsbury, it is hoped they will help to maintain the area, which is a Site of Special Scientific Interest, and create habitats for other wildlife.

"We are delighted to hear that the government has decided to allow the release of beavers back into the wild," Richard Grindle, the chief executive of Shropshire Wildlife Trust, said.

"Beavers are nature's ecosystem engineers and returning them to their rightful place in the landscape will bring multiple benefits: restoring habitats, improving water quality, and helping to reduce flood risk.

"We recognise that some land managers may have concerns about the impact on farming but we are confident that this can be managed."

The site is owned by Shrewsbury Town Council and the beaver enclosure makes up about 8.5 hectares of the 13-hectare (32-acre) site.

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