Dorset Wildlife Trust is inviting residents, landowners and businesses to have their say on the potential return of wild beavers to parts of the county.
The consultation follows recent licensed releases elsewhere in the South West, alongside five years of monitored work at the Trust’s enclosed beaver project on the River Hooke. Since their introduction there in 2021, beavers have significantly altered the landscape through dam-building and tree management.
Research linked to the project suggests beaver activity can slow water flow, create wetland habitats and increase biodiversity, as well as helping the surrounding land cope better with both drought and flooding.
Beavers are now recognised as a native species in England, and the Trust has submitted an initial expression of interest for a possible licensed release within the River Hooke and wider River Frome catchment. No decision has been made at this stage, and the Trust is keen to emphasise that the consultation will play a central role in determining whether a full licence application is taken forward. It is intended to gather views from those who live and work in the area, particularly given the practical implications for farming, land management and flood risk.
A series of public drop-in sessions will take place in April and May, alongside an online survey. These include:
Saturday 11th April, 9am to 3pm at Maiden Newton Village Hall
Saturday 18th April, 9am to 4pm at Dorchester Town Hall at the Corn Exchange
Saturday 2 May, 9am to 4pm at Wareham Corn Exchange
© Steve Oliver
Dorset Wildlife Trust
Steve Oliver, Dorset Wildlife Trust’s Rivers Conservation Officer, said: ‘Our enclosed project has given us clear, science‑based evidence of the multiple benefits beavers can bring to Dorset’s rivers and wetlands. Wild beavers are already present in parts of the county, but any future releases in new locations must be shaped by the people who live and work here. This consultation is an opportunity for everyone to share their views, raise questions and help us understand what a future with wild beavers could look like for Dorset.’
Further details and the survey can be found via dorsetwildlifetrust.org.uk
The BV community news section is sponsored by Wessex Internet
