After years of delays, the government has at last granted a licence to release beavers into the wild in Studland in Dorset.
While beavers have already been released into enclosed areas in places like Devon, this is the first wild release licence in England that the government has approved.
Little Sea in Studland is an ideal natural habitat for beavers
Benefits outweigh the risks
Postponed by fears that releasing beavers would cause widescale destruction for farmers, eventually wildlife groups won the argument that the overall benefits would more than outweigh the risks.
Beavers were once widespread but became extinct in England around the 16th century due to overhunting for their meat and fur. In recent years, they have started to return to waterways through a combination of licensed releases, escapes, unlawful wild releases, and natural breeding.
They can bring many benefits to the environment, including boosting biodiversity, creating and restoring wetland habitats, and reducing downstream flooding. However beavers can potentially cause damage to infrastructure and property.
A five year trial which released beavers along the River Otter in Devon in 2015, was a success and had widespread local support with few objections or problems.
The location of Little Sea in Studland was assessed as an ideal location for a subsequent beaver release into the wild, rather than an enclosed area, however seemingly endless government delays held up the project.
One of the illegally released Studland beavers having a swim
The tell tale sign of a gnawed tree alerted the National Trust to the fact that they had been beaver bombed
Beaver bombing
During this time, wildlife activists got tired of the waiting and a pair of beavers were illegally released – called beaver bombing – at Little Sea in Studland around January 2024. The beavers have since had a baby called a kit and all are thriving.
Eventually on Friday 28th February 2025, the government department for environment, food and rural affairs DEFRA announced that it had given the National Trust a licence to release beavers into the wild as part of its Purbeck beaver project.
This now means that another breeding pair can be officially released to join the established Studland beaver family.
One of the first pictures of the Studland kit
More baby beavers are now expected
“Learn to coexist with wild beavers”
Gen Crisford, Purbeck beaver project officer at the National Trust, who has spent years waiting for this moment, said:
“We are delighted to have this opportunity to release wild beavers into the Purbeck landscape. We have been working closely with Natural England and local partners for the past seven years to licence this first wild release.
“There is a lot of excitement within our community about this, so it is fantastic to be able to go ahead – which we’ll do in the very near future.
“We would like to thank everyone for any part they have played in getting this project this far – whether you have supported or informed the planning of the project.
“We will continue to work with everybody to ensure that this is a positive experience for everyone while we learn to coexist with wild beavers in our countryside.”
Evidence of beavers at work in Little Sea
The vast areas of water across Studland and Purbeck make an ideal breeding ground for beavers
“Historic moment”
David Brown, land and nature programme manager at the National Trust added:
“Little Sea is a highly suitable habitat for beavers and its location at the heart of the 3340 ha Purbeck Heaths National Nature Reserve (NNR) makes it the perfect place for a wild release.
“This historic moment is the culmination of decades of work by landowners in Purbeck to make our landscape better for nature.
“Together with the Wild Purbeck partnership which includes Natural England, the Dorset National Landscape team, other conservation NGOs, local landowners and farmers, the National Trust has co-created a detailed management plan.
“This is to ensure that as these fascinating mammals recolonise Purbeck, the whole community can see the benefits and we avoid or manage any potential negative impacts.
“Having a thriving population of beavers at Little Sea will undoubtedly support the Purbeck Heaths NNR and can only be a good thing for building further resilience into the landscape to benefit this special habitat and its wildlife.”
It is expected that the first licensed release of wild beavers will happen in Studland soon.
Other locations in England suitable for beavers, are now being invited by DEFRA to apply for wild release licences.
Further information
- Defra wild release and management of beavers in England policy paper
- More about beavers at Little Sea in Studland
