There are now around 1000 beavers living in Great Britain, the beginning of a great recovery story for a species that was thought until recently to be forever lost from our shores.
How has this happened in the last decade? Is it good news, what does it mean for the future of our native fauna and the overall restoration of something we might think of as ‘the wild’ and, above all, what can we do to get involved?
We are joined by Derek Gow, Ben Goldfarb and Professor Richard Brazier to look at the wider implications, the challenges, the specific ecosystem benefits and the practical considerations when introducing this species back into wilding or managed habitats.
We will be exploring the current situation in Great Britain as more and more landowners introduce this species as an attempt to restore ecosystems, mitigate flooding and improve land and water quality. We will consider the lessons being learnt along the way, how we can share experience, logistics and spread positive impact. We will look at how to limit the negative impacts, and how to communicate and get involved in this important work.
We will also be considering what lessons can be learnt from the study of beavers in the United States, a country much wilder than ours, with wolves, bears, moose and many other species that have been eliminated from our native fauna. What can we learn about the role of beavers in relatively intact US ecosystems as we consider where they might fit in the restoration of ours? What are the longer term benefits for ecosystems and landowners from working alongside this species for several generations, what have been the conflicts and what measures are conservationists in the US now taking to bring back beavers into areas they have yet to colonise?
This course includes a field trip to see Beavers at Derek Gow’s farm.