National Trust to release wild beavers in Somerset in landmark move for UK nature recovery

Other animals will be released over the coming days in areas where they can establish their own territories to engineer wetlands, build dams and shape diverse habitats to benefit other wildlife and communities alike.

The release across the catchment will also help to develop a robust and genetically diverse local population.

The wild release is the second by the charity granted under licence from Natural England since a major policy shift on species reintroductions in England came into force early last year, with the first wild release taking place on the National Trust’s Purbeck Estate in Dorset in March. It follows the two successful reintroductions into enclosed areas on the Holnicote Estate in 2020.

National Trust Project Manager Ben Eardley says: “This is incredibly exciting and is the latest step in our ambitions to restore a huge swathe of Somerset countryside and moorland to help bring back nature.

“Beavers are extraordinary partners in our work to restore nature at scale. Over the last few years we’ve seen how their dams and wetlands transform the landscape, create habitat and help buffer both floods and drought.

“Each pair, or family need their own space. Across the Estate they will have the opportunity to develop their own territory, enabling them to create wetlands, ponds, build dams, and enrich the landscape in ways only beavers can.

These ‘ecosystem engineers’ play a vital role in slowing water flow, creating and holding wetland habitats, reducing erosion, improving water quality, and the habitats they create will support a wide range of species.”

Nature Minister Mary Creagh said: “It was a privilege to witness beavers returning to Somerset. These extraordinary creatures are brilliant for biodiversity, reduce flood risk and improve water quality in our rivers.

“The return of beavers is a vital part of this government’s mission to protect and restore nature and we’re working closely with local communities to maximise their benefits.”

Natural England Chief Executive Marian Spain said: “We are delighted to have approved a second beaver release licence for the National Trust, following the success of their wild beaver release in Dorset last year. This latest release builds on a growing network of responsible, well-planned reintroductions across the region with the potential to make a huge difference to nature recovery.

“This work sits alongside our broader ambitions on Exmoor, where we're partnering with the National Park and National Trust to restore dynamic habitats, trial innovative grazing approaches, and support the re-introduction of white-tailed eagles and pine martens — driving nature recovery at scale across this iconic landscape.”

The wild releases will play a key role in accelerating the National Trust’s ambitious, -planned landscape scale nature recovery programme across the 5,000hectare (12,000acre) Holnicote Estate developing aclimate-resilient landscape that delivers for wildlife, water, carbon and communities.

Together, these initiatives represent a bold step towards transforming Holnicote into a living example of what a restored, resilient countryside can achieve — for people, for nature and for future generations.

The wider release will include introducing beavers into the Trust’s ground‑breaking ‘Stage 0’ floodplain reconnection on the River Aller which was inspired by river restoration approaches first trialled in Oregon, USA. This project created a dynamic, sprawling floodplain wetland mosaic by moving more than 4,000 tonnes of earth to infill the straightened river channel, instantly reconnecting the watercourse with its floodplain. The project involved laying hundreds of tonnes of deadwood across the floodplain, planting wetland plugs, wildflower seeds and native trees to give the site an ecological kick start that beavers will utilise and enhance.

In just over two years this restoration has resulted in an extensive wetland complex with multiple channels, pools, marshes and shallow riffles supporting abundant numbers and varieties of wildflowers and benefiting species such as frogs, dragonflies, fish and numerous bird species including swallows, kingfishers and egrets. This ecological explosion in abundance and diversity mimics the activity of beavers and is exactly the kind of wetland habitat that beaver will develop in locations throughout the estate, benefiting local communities and wildlife.

Ben adds: “Releasing beavers into this environment is a landmark moment – the meeting of cutting-edge innovative human-led hydrological restoration with nature’s own engineers.

“At ‘Stage 0’ we hope the beavers will develop further complexity on the site, maintaining and enhancing the thriving wetland habitat. It’ll be incredible to see what changes they can make to habitat that is already providing multiple benefits for people and nature. For instance, ongoing monitoring indicates that average flood peaks have been reduced by 40%, lag times have increased and downstream turbidity (water cloudiness) has decreased by over 40%, highlighting the value nature-based solutions can have for local communities.”

With the south-west of England recently experiencing severe flooding, the Trust emphasises that beavers are not a quick fix, nor a replacement for other landscape interventions to hold water, but that can play their part.

Ben continues: “Over time we expect beaver dams and wetlands to help slow floodwaters, store water higher in the catchment, and reduce the severity of downstream flood peaks, helping communities become more resilient. This natural resilience can only become more important in a warming climate, and it sits at the heart of the Trust’s ongoing work.”

The Holnicote release has been made possible thanks to funding from Admiral’s Green Fund Initiative.

Michelle Leavesley, Chief Sustainability Officer at Admiral, says: “The reintroduction of wild beavers at Holnicote highlights the potential role that nature based approaches can play in supporting ecosystem recovery and biodiversity. Through our partnership Fund, we’re pleased to support this project as part of a wider effort to learn from and contribute to initiatives that aim to deliver positive outcomes for nature, local communities and the long-term resilience of our landscape.”

The Trust is also working with Beaver Trust, experts in beaver translocation, welfare and coexistence work, who source and translocate animals across Scotland, England and Wales.

Dr Roisin Campbell, Head of Restoration at Beaver Trust, said: “Working closely with the National Trust at this site with their enclosed projects, beavers have thrived and adapted well to this landscape. Establishing multiple family groups across this connected landscape will support natural dispersal, a healthy founding population and genetic diversity - all essential for their long-term successful, resilient return to our rivers.

“We hope this marks the beginning of restoring the species at the scale needed in the wild to halt species decline, increase wildlife, and ultimately tackle the biodiversity crisis, in line with the government’s legally binding commitments.”

The Estate team is also working closely with local farmers to understand how wetland habitat can help to provide grazing opportunities and help mitigate the impact extreme weather is having on their business. And, ahead of the release, the Trust has been liaising closely with its neighbours and local residents enabling the community to learn more about the role beavers play in shaping resilient, wildlife‑rich places.

Stewart Clarke, Senior National Freshwater and Estuary Specialist concluded: “As beavers return to our landscapes, we need to ensure they have the space to do what they do best — create thriving wetlands that benefit wildlife and people. But space alone isn’t enough. We also need the right incentives and support so farmers, landowners and communities can confidently coexist with beavers. A network of healthy, nature-rich river corridors will only be possible if policy and funding recognise the vital role these landscapes play in climate resilience and nature recovery.”

Other key stakeholders and funders supporting the Trust’s wider work include Green Recovery Challenge Fund 2, Species Survival Funding, Interreg 2 Seas Co-Adapt, Somerset River Authority and The Environment Agency.

To support other National Trust species reintroduction and nature recovery projects, visit www.nationaltrust.org.uk/everyone-needs-nature-appeal