One year on from first wild release in England, beavers transform dense woodland in Studland to wildlife-rich wetland
- Published:
- 26 March 2026
One year after beavers were released into the wild at Studland in Dorset, their activity has dramatically reshaped part of the local landscape – turning a previously dense area of woodland into a thriving wetland habitat.
These beavers are one of two pairs that the National Trust released into Little Sea lake in March 2025, under the first license of its kind to be granted by Natural England.
The Trust recently added to its wild release beaver numbers with a successful reintroduction of several animals on the Holnicote Estate in Exmoor after being granted a further licence.
Hunted to extinction on mainland Britain in the 16th Century, wild beavers are now poised to play a crucial role in restoring ecosystems.
Since their reintroduction, the beavers have explored widely - searching for a suitable place to establish a territory. In the early months, they investigated several locations that proved unsuitable; the female even swam by sea to the nearby town of Swanage but was relocated to Little Sea for welfare reasons. The pair have now settled, building an impressive 35‑metre dam where the ecological impacts, and benefits, of their activity are already becoming clear.
The dam has slowed the flow of a small stream, creating a deep and extensive pond. Their coppicing of trees has opened up the canopy, allowing light to flood in and creating ideal habitat for plants, insects, amphibians, birds and bats. The trail cameras have already picked up an otter fishing in the pond, as well as a barn owl hunting there, and volunteers have spotted birds like redpoll and water rail.
Gen Crisford, the National Trust’s Wetlands Project Officer, said: “The effect on the ecosystem in a relatively short time is astonishing. From dense tangled woodland, the beavers have created a light and airy wetland teeming with life above and below the water. We can’t wait to see what wildlife appears this spring and summer – from dragonflies, diving beetles and butterflies to frogs and newts – and of course, all the animals that feed off them.
“It's important to remember that the trees the beavers fell don’t die – they quickly sprout new shoots. In fact, regular coppicing like this is essential for keeping the woodland healthy. Not only have the beavers breathed new life into the landscape, but there are also indications that by slowing the flow of the stream, they are helping prevent the nearby road from flooding in heavy rain.”
Trail cameras have recently captured footage of this pair of beavers mating, indicating there could be kits this summer.
Gen added: “It’s very rare to capture footage of beavers mating, so it has generated lots of interest. But the important thing for us was that it’s a clear sign they’ve settled well into their new home. Our monitoring programme, using dedicated volunteers and trail cameras, keeps us informed about the health and wellbeing of the beavers.”
The new beavers joined another pair on the lake, which had arrived there by unknown means prior to the government licence being granted. That pair have successfully raised three kits and constructed two large lodges, one each side of the 33-hectare (82 acre) lake.
Beavers’ instinctive dam-building plays an important role in climate resilience. By slowing water flow and creating wetlands, beavers help retain water during both floods and droughts, benefiting nature and local communities. Their natural dams also filter out sediment, improving water quality downstream.
Ben McCarthy, Head of Nature Conservation at the National Trust added: “The transformation already underway is remarkable and demonstrates the vital role nature can play in addressing the environmental pressures we face.
“This reintroduction demonstrates how positive political action can result in tangible ecological recovery in a really short space of time.
“Replicating nature-based solutions like these is essential if Government is to meet its promise of making 30% of land good for nature by 2030.”
The next planned wild beaver release on the Purbeck Heaths National Nature Reserve is expected to take place this autumn, although the exact location has yet to be confirmed.
For more information visit nationaltrust.org.uk/studland-beavers