‘A rare opportunity’: Dorset Wildlife Trust launches appeal to return beavers to the wild
A campaign to "Bring Beavers Back" to the wild for the first time in centuries has been launched by Dorset Wildlife Trust
Last updated 7 hours ago
A major new fundraising appeal has been launched to bring beavers back to Dorset’s rivers and wetlands for the first time in centuries.
Dorset Wildlife Trust is seeking public support through its “Bring Beavers Back” campaign, which aims to fund a licensed release project to establish free-living populations across the county.
The initiative is being backed by The Big Give, meaning every donation made during the appeal period will be doubled.
It’s a move the Trust says could significantly accelerate efforts to restore the species.
Beavers were reintroduced to an enclosed site in west Dorset five years ago, where they have already had a transformative impact. The animals, often described as “ecosystem engineers”, have turned a narrow stream into a rich wetland habitat supporting a wide range of wildlife.
Research at the site has recorded increases in species including dragonflies, amphibians, bats and kingfishers.
The dams built by the beavers also help slow water flow, improving resilience to both flooding and drought.
Now, with the UK Government committed to the wider reintroduction of beavers into the wild, the Trust is exploring a larger, catchment-scale project that would allow the animals to spread naturally across Dorset.
Steve Oliver, the Trust’s rivers conservation officer, said: “Beavers have already transformed our enclosed site, creating a vibrant wetland that supports an extraordinary range of wildlife.
“Now we have a rare opportunity to bring these benefits to the wider Dorset landscape. With match funding available, every donation will be doubled, helping us take a major step towards a future where beavers once again shape our rivers.”
A public consultation is currently under way, with residents invited to share their views through meetings, workshops and surveys as plans develop.