Beavering away: nature's heroes
Beaver dam creates a wildlife-rich wetland
The beavers at the Holnicote Estate have created a dam nine months after they were introduced into their new home. This modest but effective construction, made from trees and vegetation, is thought to be the first beaver dam on Exmoor in more than 400 years.
Beavers build dams to create deep pools of water, which offer shelter from predators and allow them to access and store food. The dams, ponds and channels these creatures create have the added advantage of preventing flooding by slowing, storing and filtering water as it flows downstream. They also transform the landscape into a mosaic of wildlife havens that improves biodiversity and makes the river catchment more resilient.
Ben Eardley, project manager at the National Trust, said: 'We’ve already spotted kingfishers at the site, and over time, as the beavers extend their network of dams and pools, we should see increased opportunities for other wildlife, including amphibians, insects, bats and birds.
'The recent rain we’ve had is a reminder of the significant role beavers can play in engineering the landscape. As we face the effects of climate change and more frequent extreme weather events, natural interventions like this need to be part of the solution.'
Looking after rivers
We've released the beavers as part of a £13m project to restore the health of rivers, streams, brooks, and becks. The work will focus five key areas: the River Conwy in North Wales, the Derwent in Cumbria, the Upper Bure in Norfolk, the Bollin in Cheshire and Porlock Vale streams in Somerset.
Rangers and tenant farmers on the Holnicote Estate are working to create more space for nature by reconnecting rivers and streams to the surrounding landscape. Not only does this allow more plants and animals to flourish it also helps to guard against severe weather.
National Trust staff and volunteers, and experts from Exeter University, will monitor the beavers we've released into this area and record the changes they make to the river.
Fascinating facts about beavers
- Beavers are the second-largest living rodent
- They are herbivores, eating aquatic plants, grasses, herbaceous plants and shrubs in the summer months and woody plants in the winter
- They will often store food underwater so they can access it if the water freezes over in the winter
- They can remain underwater for up to 15 minutes
- They have protective eyelids to see underwater and can close both their nostrils and ears to prevent water from entering
- Beaver teeth are orange from the iron content in the food they eat