Beavers Reintroduced to South Downs National Park After Six Centuries

Two beavers have been released as part of an initiative aimed at revitalizing a wetland area. The beavers, named Willow and Wilson, were brought into a section of the South Downs National Park, located close to Petersfield in Hampshire, on Monday evening. These semi-aquatic mammals, which were eradicated from the region through hunting in the 16th Century, are known for their ability to establish wetlands and diverse wildlife habitats. A team of academics will monitor the effects these beavers have on their new surroundings, an area where the species has not been observed “for probably more than 600 years,” following their transfer from Scotland. Farmer William Atkinson stated that inviting the Beaver Trust to assist with a project to restore a wetland area on the River Meon appeared to be a “logical thing.” He expressed, “We’re really, really excited about having the beavers.” Atkinson further explained, “They are a species of animal that will completely change the ecosystem. At the moment it’s a straight river with a bit of a duck pond but it will completely transform into multiple ponds and bring in loads of different species of animals. It’s super exciting to see what they are going to get up to.” Prof David Sear, a professor of physical geography at the University of Southampton, indicated that his team anticipates observing alterations in water storage capacity. He remarked, “You’ve got this animal that hasn’t been here for probably more than 600 years, it arrives and starts to change things.” Prof Sear added, “We’re hoping to be able to tell a story of how beavers transform a small river environment. Through that we’ll learn the effects that they have – both positive and maybe there’s some negative ones with some of the ecology, we simply don’t know. We’re going to find out a lot more than we ever would have done because of the way in which the techniques for documenting environmental change have advanced over the years.” Jan Knowlson, the biodiversity officer for the South Downs National Park, described Willow and Wilson as a “fabulous addition.” She stated, “We’re really interested in getting the water quality up. So it’s super important to have the beavers coming in and working on our rivers with us to help improve the quality and quantity of our water.” Separately, another pair of beavers, named Chompy and Hazel, were released onto the Ewhurst estate, located near Basingstoke, in January 2023. Their offspring, which represent the first beaver kits born in Hampshire in 400 years, were given the names Bobby and Barry by school pupils and Beaver Scouts following their sighting splashing within their enclosure in July.