'Pink tag', one of our most observed beavers on the River Otter (she is quite the performer!) feeding on willow bark near Otterton. (M.Symes Devon Wildlife Trust)
Matt Holden is the Devon Beaver Project Lead for Devon Wildlife Trust. In this guest blog he introduces the work of Devon Wildlife Trust on beaver reintroduction in Devon, explores some of the myths and truths around beavers and trees, and considers how riparian buffer strips could help reduce beaver-human conflicts and enhance river corridors for a whole suite of species.
The River Otter Beaver Trial
The River Otter Beaver Trial (ROBT) has been a great success story in the return of beaver (Castor fiber) to England. The trial on the River Otter in East Devon (2015-2020) highlighted that the reintroduction of this keystone species offers the potential to enhance the biodiversity, water quality and flood resilience of our watercourses. Whilst some beaver-human conflicts were identified during the trial, natural and social science research found that the negative impacts were far outweighed by the benefits.
The outcome of the ROBT was the official acknowledgement by Defra in August 2020 that the beavers could stay and expand naturally in the catchment.
Beavers on the River Otter - key facts
First beaver reported on the River Otter: 2007/2008
First wild breeding beavers reported: 2014
Beginning of the River Otter Beaver Trial: 2015
Completion of the trial: 2020
Defra consent for beavers to stay: 2020
Current number of territories:>20
Current population status: building
Beavers and trees
Part of the research conducted during the ROBT was on the impacts of beavers on trees in the catchment. It involved identifying the species they prefer, the scale of the impacts and the options for protecting trees from beaver feeding. Alongside other research it has helped to define some important truths and myths associated with beavers and trees:
Truths:
- Beavers browse on woody vegetation. This involves consumption of the bark, shoots and leaves of primarily broadleaf species.
- Beavers do fell trees to obtain the bark, side branches and leaves, as well as to use for dam construction. Whilst some of these can be large trees, they typically prefer smaller saplings. Ring barking of trees has been observed and is potentially linked to beavers trying to allow more light into shaded areas - increasing the structural and species diversity of the understorey.
- Beavers tend to select species which coppice well, with the most frequent feed species during the ROBT being willow and hazel.
- It is possible to prevent beavers from feeding on trees. The ROBT found that during the five years of the trial visual effects on riverside trees were predominantly subtle. However, where concerns were raised a number of management options proved to be effective to protect important trees. These include painting the base of the tree with a sandy paint mix or with galvanised weld mesh, or using electric fencing to exclude beavers from priority areas e.g. orchards.
Myths:
- Beavers do not feed on fish; they are entirely herbivorous. Whilst they do feed on woody vegetation throughout the year, in spring and summer their diet tends to shift to mostly herbaceous and aquatic vegetation.
- Beavers will not fell all trees within a landscape or along a watercourse. Research from Denmark, Russia and Scotland has found that the majority of feeding e.g. 90 - 99% is within 10-20m of the water's edge.
At this particular site the University of Exeter have been studying the changes in canopy structure as a result of beaver, identifying dynamic changes in vegetation structure due to beaver coppicing over time. (Credit: Devon Wildlife Trust)
The biodiversity benefits of beavers in riparian habitats
The fascinating thing about beavers is their capacity to engineer the riparian woodland and wetland habitats around them. Research from both the ROBT and more widely has demonstrated that foraging behaviour on woody vegetation alters the vegetation structure, opening up parts of the canopy and increasing the diversity of habitats for plants, birds, bats and a range of other terrestrial species. Beaver activity can also increase the abundance of standing and submerged dead wood which is increasingly recognised as being critically important for a wide range of terrestrial and aquatic species.
A recent investigation into all the evidence on the ecological impacts of beavers has noted that, whilst there are some priority woodland habitats where beaver activity would need careful consideration, the benefits to biodiversity are overwhelmingly positive. Research continues in Devon and more widely in the UK, and we are getting increasing requests from researchers for access to beaver sites to conduct ecological investigations for several different species groups.
In addition to research being conducted on the River Otter, Devon Wildlife Trust has been monitoring the ecological changes at our West Devon Beaver Enclosure Project for the past 11 years. A recent publication provides an intriguing update into the changes in vegetation, invertebrates, amphibians, birds and bats.
Making space for water and beavers
A key challenge identified in the ROBT is that the people who benefit from beaver reintroduction are not necessarily the ones who bear the brunt of the impacts. It is a priority for Devon Wildlife Trust to support farmers and landowners with the management of beaver activity. Currently this involves providing guidance and information, practical management of dams and the protection of important trees.
Further information can be found in the Beaver Management Strategy Framework developed as part of the ROBT.
One way to reduce or even eliminate these beaver-human conflicts is to make space for watercourses and wetlands by creating riparian buffer strips. As most of the challenges arise within 10-20m of water, in many places the size of these riparian buffers would be relatively modest. These riparian buffer strips allow space for natural processes to take hold, provide a natural corridor through the landscape and allow wildlife to flourish.
Making space for watercourses and beavers within conventional agricultural landscapes maximises the ability for us to realise the full ecosystem service and ecological benefits of beavers such as slowing the flow, filtering water and enhancing biodiversity. (Credit: A.Puttock - University of Exeter)
The latest from Defra
Defra's new environmental land management schemes include the Sustainable Farming Incentive, Local Nature Recovery and Landscape Recovery. These schemes are designed to support productive and sustainable farming and food production alongside environmental, climate and animal welfare outcomes.
Defra have outlined their commitment to pay farmers for activities that significantly reduce the main agricultural pollutants that enter watercourses, specifically nitrogen, phosphate and sediment - and to support the restoration of rivers, lakes and other freshwater habitats on farms and in the wider countryside.
Alongside potential ELMs based payments another exciting funding avenue for riparian buffer strips is through the Forestry Commission's England Woodland Creation Offer (EWCO) - paying up to £4,800/ha for woodland creation that delivers riparian buffers, higher nature recovery benefits and improves water quality. EWCO is something that the Devon Wildlife Trust are currently investigating to support landowners in our area to make space for water and beavers. As it can be applied to riparian strips as narrow as 10m along watercourses and is BPS compatible, it's a potential win-win situation for biodiversity and landowners.
For more information on EWCO watch How the England Woodland Creation Offer works.
The future for beavers in Devon
In Devon we are continuing to expand our work supporting communities and landowners who are living with and managing beavers. We are working towards a long-term vision for beavers in Devon, with an ambition for beavers across all major catchments. A growing focus of our work is on creating a space to share information and knowledge across England and Wales regarding our coexistence with beavers. An integral part of this is to develop and promote long-term strategies that financially reward landowners who make space for watercourses and the beavery habitats that develop.
With wild beavers now expanding across nearly all other European countries, we are hopeful that we will see the return of this enigmatic species throughout the many rivers and streams in England.
Where to find more information
If you'd like more information and support on the management of beavers in Devon, contact the Devon Wildlife Trust .
Alternatively, if you're located outside of the Devon area, you can contact your local Wildlife Trust.
Further guidance on woodland creation and information on grants and available support is available from the Forestry Commission.
Find out more about the Woodlands for Water riparian planting projects taking place in the South West Devon and Cornwall catchment - The Tamar and Fowey, and in the North East Devon and Somerset catchment - Torridge and Taw.
Resources used in this blog: Brazier, R.E., Elliott, M., Andison, E., Auster, R.E., Bridgewater, S., Burgess, P., Chant, J., Graham, H., Knott, E., Puttock, A.K., Sansum, P., Vowles, A., (2020) River Otter Beaver Trial: Science and Evidence Report
Campbell-Palmer, Róisín & Gow, Derek & Campbell, Roo & Dickinson, Helen & Girling, Simon & Gurnell, John & Halley, Duncan & Jones, Simon & Lisle, Skip & Parker, Howard & Schwab, Gerhard & Rosell, Frank. (2016). The Eurasian Beaver Handbook: Ecology and Management of Castor fiber.