A twelve week consultation has launched into plans to reintroduce beavers to more English countryside and a project developed by the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust could see the animals living wild on the Isle of Wight.

The plan, if it gets the go-ahead, is to introduce them on the Eastern Yar, at the Trust's Newchurch Moors reserve.

Government proposals support a “cautious” return of the semi-aquatic mammals as well as giving them legal protection, making it an offence to deliberately capture, kill, disturb or injure them, or damage their breeding sites or resting places.

Beavers, which were hunted to extinction in the 16th century, are seen as engineers who restore wetlands, through dam-building and felling trees, slowing, storing and filtering water in the landscape, which attracts other wildlife and reduces flooding downstream.

Wildlife Trusts are already at the forefront of their reintroduction.

Kent Wildlife Trust released the first pair into a fenced area of fenland in 2001, followed by the Scottish Beaver Trial in 2009 and they have already been successfully reintroduced on the River Otter in Devon.

Conservationists say beavers to restore wetland habitats, boost other wildlife, curb climate impacts such as increased flooding, and support eco-tourism but applications will need to meet criteria including local support from and for landowners and river users.

The Yar runs from Niton to Bembridge and often floods in the Alverstone and Sandown areas, prompting regular flood alerts.

Isle of Wight County Press:

Beavers could be introduced on the Isle of Wight (Photo by Ben Birchall/PA).

Some landowners have raised concerns about their impact.

Richard Bramley, chairman of the National Farmers’ Union environment forum, said: “It is positive that any reintroduction will be strictly licensed by Natural England and it is important any approved licensing includes a long-term management plan, developed with local farmers and backed with adequate funding.

“Any impact on a farmer’s ability to produce food needs to be included as part of a full impact assessment carried out before any licence is issued.”

He warned that beaver reintroductions could have negative impacts such as damaging trees and impeding farmland drainage, and said adequate compensation must be paid if there are financial impacts on farmers, and an exit strategy must be in place should major issues occur.

  • Read the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) consultation in full HERE

Environment Secretary George Eustice said: “We are committed to providing opportunities to reintroduce formerly native species, where the benefits for the environment, people and the economy are clear.

“Today marks a significant milestone for the reintroduction of beavers in the wild.

“We also understand that there are implications for landowners, so we are taking a cautious approach to ensure that all potential impacts are carefully considered.”

Government conservation agency Natural England's chair Tony Juniper said the launch of the consultation “marks an important and positive moment for the future of these wonderful animals in England”.

Rob Stoneman, from The Wildlife Trusts said populations would need managing but said:  “There’s an impressive body of evidence to show how beavers can help to improve the quality of rivers and wetlands and the wildlife they support, improve water quality, and reduce flood risk, as well as contributing to carbon storage.

“Beavers are fabulous – they can do all of this free of charge.

Eva Bishop, from the Beaver Trust said the announcement was an important step forward for beavers’ recovery in Britain.

She said: “We hope to see beavers accepted back in the countryside like any other native wild animal – particularly as they have a role to play in nature’s recovery and British wildlife resilience in the climate emergency.”

Professor Alastair Driver, director of Rewilding Britain, said: “Beavers can rewild completely free of charge in river and wetland environments – so it really is a ‘no-brainer’ that with the right local community support and management strategies in place, we should return them back where they belong in our catchment.”

Scotland has also seen their return.

The Scottish Government gave them legal protection in 2019, although they can be killed under licence if they damage farmland.