The potential return of beavers to Gloucestershire is one step closer
The potential return of beavers to Gloucestershire is one step closer as the Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust and Forestry England begin the next phase of the Severn Vale Beaver Project to restore this native species to the county.
This next stage builds on the findings of Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust’s feasibility study, which identified both suitable conditions for reintroduction and strong public support, with 91 per cent of respondents in favour of a return of beavers to Gloucestershire. The study also identified the Forest of Dean and the River Frome, within the Severn Vale catchment, as potentially suitable locations.
With funding from The National Lottery Heritage Fund, Forestry England and Stroud District Council, work will now focus on detailed stakeholder engagement, further planning, and preparing the county to become “beaver ready”.
Director of Nature’s Recovery at Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust, Emma Hutchins, said: “We believe that reintroducing beavers to the Severn Vale will be positive for both people and wildlife, helping to recreate lost habitats, increase biodiversity, and reduce downstream flooding for at-risk properties.
“We are committed to working with local people to minimise the risk of effects from beavers on other land uses, while enabling beavers to resume their place as a keystone species in our ecosystem.”
As with the feasibility phase, the project will continue to be evidence-led and collaborative, setting the groundwork for a responsible reintroduction that will maximise the ecological and environmental benefits of beavers while minimising any potential risks to land or infrastructure.
At this stage, there is still no guarantee that reintroduction will go ahead. Any decision to proceed will depend on the continued evidence gathered and will remain subject to licensing approval from Natural England.
Dr Amy Fitzmaurice, Species Recovery Officer for Forestry England, said: “We’re already seeing beavers making a real difference in our enclosures in the Forest of Dean, restoring wetlands, creating habitat and helping to slow the flow of water. Across the country, beavers are starting to return to the wild too, but that kind of change takes time and careful planning.
“By working with Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust and other partners, we’ve been able to look closely at what beavers could mean for the Severn catchment, the opportunities they bring, as well as the challenges. Beavers are likely to find their way back to places like the Forest of Dean over time, so being ‘beaver‑ready’ is really important.
“Thanks to additional funding we can now recruit two Assistant Species Recovery Officers who’ll help support beavers, landowners and local communities as we prepare for the future.”
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