The formal announcement of a new arrival at Studland in Dorset was made at the Planet Purbeck Festival in Swanage to the delight of the audience – many who had followed the long saga to reintroduce beavers to the Little Sea lake.
For many years, The National Trust team in Purbeck had been planning to release a breeding pair of beavers on the Studland peninsula and was still waiting on government approval, when it made the surprise discovery that two beavers had already arrived in January 2024.
Gen Crisford, the National Trust’s wetlands project officer for Purbeck updates the audience at The Mowlem
Latest beaver news
Gen Crisford, the National Trust’s wetlands project officer was at the Planet Purbeck Festival’s Celebration of Purbeck at The Mowlem and produced a short film updating the audience with the latest beaver news.
It’s not known how the beavers arrived at the lake – whether by an illegal release or by natural dispersal as they are already colonising parts of the River Stour in Dorset, but they have well and truly settled in.
Not only have they built themselves a lodge, but they have also had their first baby, called a kit.
Gen Crisford said:
“We established that there were two beavers, although they often move around independently. In July they set about gathering sticks and mud to build a lodge. This is where they sleep during the day and raise their family.
“Skilled volunteers have helped to monitor them closely from dusk to darkness. There was much excitement when the kit first appeared.”
One of the first pictures of the baby beaver swimming in Little Sea
Secretive and nocturnal
As beavers are secretive, nocturnal animals, the monitoring has included using trail cameras and thermal imagery, as well as keeping an eye out for signs of their feeding activity around the lake, such as bark chippings and gnawed and felled trees.
To help ensure the safety of the beavers, which are a protected species, the National Trust has now put signs around the lake to make people aware of the new residents, and how to avoid harming them – as well as protecting any inquisitive dogs.
One of the proud parents spotted at Little Sea
Beaver rules
- Keep dogs on leads and not let them swim in the water. Beavers aren’t naturally aggressive but will defend themselves if they feel threatened, especially if there are kits
- Being quiet by the waterside. Beavers have good hearing and will hide if scared
- Watch from a distance, preferably using binoculars
- Avoid using lights to search for the beavers at night as this can distress them
- Little Sea provides a home to lots of vulnerable wildlife, not just beavers, so no swimming or watercraft are allowed
Little Sea is a perfect home for beavers
“Start sharing more of their story”
Gen added:
“Beavers are monogamous, so this will now be a family unit until the kit is around two years old, when it will establish its own territory.
“We’d like to thank everyone for giving the beavers space and time to settle into their new home.
“We’ll now start sharing more of their story, including video footage of them swimming, carrying branches, gnawing – and of course, of the kit!”
“It is still our aim to gain a government licence for a legal unenclosed release of additional beavers into Little Sea, which would help build a viable population.
“The long-term vision is that beavers will gradually colonise the waterways across the Purbeck Heaths National Nature Reserve.”
The beavers quickly got to work restyling their home
Creating diverse and dynamic wetlands
Beavers are herbivorous, eating native tree species, reeds and a wide variety of vegetation.
They are often referred to as ecosystem engineers because they make changes to their habitats, such as coppicing trees and shrub species, damming smaller water courses, and digging beaver canal systems which creates diverse and dynamic wetlands.
Gen said:
“In the case of Little Sea, as the beavers fell trees, they will create glades and open patches in the dense woodland.
“This allows light to penetrate the canopy, attracting myriad wildlife such as dragonflies, bees, butterflies, birds and wildflowers. New saplings will quickly grow again, creating a much more dynamic woodland with trees of all ages.”
Evidence of beaver activity at Little Sea
Trained and licenced beaver managers
Due to the spread of beavers across the county, the Dorset Beaver Management Group has been set up.
This is a group of trained and licenced beaver managers, which is working closely with other organisations in South West England where beavers are recolonising.
Gen added:
“Having beavers in our landscape is new and exciting – but some people might have concerns. Our remit is to support communities – whether landowners, farmers or residents – while we all learn to live alongside beavers once more.
“The group means we can have a coordinated approach to providing information and guidance.”
A panel discussion about farming at the Celebration of Purbeck
Passionate about nature recovery
Other speakers at the Celebration of Purbeck included the National Trust’s South West regional director Rebecca Burton, CEO of the Nature Friendly Farming Network Martin Lines, Ian Alexander from Natural England, and Dorset dairy farmer Sophie Gregory, who all spoke of their passion for working to improve the natural environment.
There were a number of pleas for the new Labour government to be more proactive in helping to restore nature in Purbeck and across the UK. Fortunately, the new MP for Dorset South, Lloyd Hatton was in the audience, to hear what they said.
The final event of the Planet Purbeck Festival is the Nature and Wellbeing Fair from 10 am to 3 pm on Saturday 21st September 2024 on the terrace area of Shore Road near The Mowlem.
There will be stalls from more than 25 local projects and community groups, along with food and music.
Further information
- National Trust Studland Bay beavers
- DWT Dorset Beaver Management group
- More about Planet Purbeck
- The Planet Purbeck Nature and Wellbeing Fair
