National Trust reintroduces beavers to Wallington
The family of four will develop a wetland ecosystem.
The National Trust has introduced a family of beavers to a tributary in Wallington, in an effort to renew and restore nature to the area.
The family of four were released into a 24-hectare enclosure on a tributary of the Hart Burn in the estate, where they will significantly impact the habitat within and develop a wetland ecosystem.
The beavers, two adults and two young, were relocated from the River Tay in Scotland following a health screening and pre-release care.
The development marks the first re-introduction of beavers by the National Trust in the North of England, following releases in Devon and the edge of the South Downs.
The latest reintroduction forms part of the National Trust’s Wilder Wallington project, which aims to improve the prospects for nature across the 5,300 hectare estate and beyond.
The programme will now be carefully monitored for its environmental benefits, including water quality, floodwater management, vegetation changes and ecology. The Environment Agency will also study how the beavers and the native white-clawed crayfish co-exist.
Newcastle University will create a 3-D model of the enclosure to monitor habitat changes.
As the beavers establish themselves in their new surroundings, the National Trust has asked that people do not visit the site, to allow them time to settle in and set up their den with minimal disturbance.
Paul Hewitt, countryside manager at the National Trust, said: "Much as they did centuries ago, these instinctive animals will engineer the landscape, creating a dynamic system of dams and ponds that, over time, will become a lush wetland, brimming with life.
“The BBC’s Wild Isles was a powerful reminder of the beauty – and critically, the scarcity – of British wildlife. If we are to make sure those amazing natural spectacles don’t become a thing of the past, we have to create space for wildlife to thrive. Beavers are a fantastic tool to help us do that; where they go, fish, insects, birds and amphibians follow.”
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