Latest news with #TomFreeland
Yahoo
28-03-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Experts thrilled after creature returns from 400-year-long absence: 'What you should start to see is the impact that they're having'
Two Eurasian beavers have returned after 400 years of absence, as the BBC reported. The beavers were released in an enclosed nature reserve in Shrewsbury, England. Conservationists in the United Kingdom hope that the beavers can help restore the natural wetlands of Old River Bed. The goal is to improve the area's biodiversity and heal from years of habitat loss. Beavers are keystone species that act as nature's engineers. Their innate ability to slow down water flow is critical in preventing flooding. Beavers build dams that turn into ponds. As time passes, the ponds turn into wetlands. These marshes are the natural habitat of birds, fish, and amphibians. The newly homed beavers are part of a bigger movement in the U.K. For many years, conservation groups and wildlife organizations reintroduced beavers to different areas in England. A pair of beavers was recently rehomed in South Downs National Park to revive a critical wetland. Scientists hope that the beavers can improve the quality and quantity of the wetlands. In a similar initiative 15 years ago, beavers were released in a Knapdale rainforest in Scotland. The area is now bearing the fruits of the beavers' labor. Water voles, once endangered, are flourishing, thanks to these beavers. Conservation experts are similarly hopeful, and wildlife organizations are eager to track the beavers' impact over time. "I think having them in Shrewsbury is really exciting because it's an urban site, it's a site with housing on both sides, and it gives us an opportunity to give people the chance to interact with the beavers and see what they do on a local level," Tom Freeland, head of nature reserves at Shropshire Wildlife Trust, told BBC Radio Shropshire. Freeland added: "But what you should start to see is the impact that they're having." Someday, beavers may have offspring in the enclosure, as there is ample space to support their growth. Should the government be paying people to hunt invasive species? Definitely Depends on the animal No way Just let people do it for free Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
BBC News
07-02-2025
- General
- BBC News
Beavers return to Shrewsbury after 400 years
Beavers have been reintroduced to a town's nature reserve after 400 years of absence.A bonded pair of Eurasian beavers were released into an enclosure at the Old River Bed in Shrewsbury on is hoped they will help to maintain the area, which is a Site of Special Scientific release is one of several undertaken across the UK in enclosed areas such as this. Campaigners want the animals to be introduced in the wild too. "The major threat to the site is from willow scrub drying out the wetland habitat, so the idea of having the beavers in is that they will control that," said Jim Goldsmith, Shrewsbury Town Council's countryside and green spaces council owns the area, which covers about 13 hectares (32 acres). The beaver enclosure makes up about 8.5 methods have been tried in the past to manage the scrub encroachment, including introducing longhorn cattle and using chainsaws to cut it it is hoped the furry pair, who were transported to Shropshire from Scotland, could be the answer to keeping the space neat and tidy. "I think having them in Shrewsbury is really exciting because it's an urban site, it's a site with housing on both sides, and it gives us an opportunity to give people the chance to interact with the beavers and see what they do on a local level," said Tom Freeland, Shropshire Wildlife Trust's head of nature reserves."The Old River Bed is a Site of Special Scientific Interest, it's really interesting for wildlife but it's quite hard to manage, because of it being regularly wet and difficult to graze and keep the trees from scrubbing over it so they'll help with that, they'll be natural managers of it."But it's also part of a wider national effort to get beavers back."To allow the creatures time to settle in, the trust said the site's boardwalk and woodland footpath would be closed for about a week after the area will be monitored by both volunteers and camera traps. "In the longer term we'd like to see wild releases of beavers and beavers available across the country," said Mr there's hope that one day there may be the appearance of beaver offspring."We know that they have had kits before, so we're confident that that will take place. There's plenty of room here," he told the BBC Radio Freeland added that it was unlikely that the public would see the beavers in the daytime."They tend to keep a relatively low profile, so you might be lucky.""But what you should start to see is the impact that they're having." Follow BBC Shropshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
