• Education
    • Higher Education
    • Scholarships & Grants
    • Online Learning
    • School Reforms
    • Research & Innovation
  • Lifestyle
    • Travel
    • Food & Drink
    • Fashion & Beauty
    • Home & Living
    • Relationships & Family
  • Technology & Startups
    • Software & Apps
    • Startup Success Stories
    • Startups & Innovations
    • Tech Regulations
    • Venture Capital
    • Artificial Intelligence
    • Cybersecurity
    • Emerging Technologies
    • Gadgets & Devices
    • Industry Analysis
  • About us
  • Contact
  • Advertise with Us
  • Privacy & Policy
Today Headline
  • Home
  • World News
    • Us & Canada
    • Europe
    • Asia
    • Africa
    • Middle East
  • Politics
    • Elections
    • Political Parties
    • Government Policies
    • International Relations
    • Legislative News
  • Business & Finance
    • Market Trends
    • Stock Market
    • Entrepreneurship
    • Corporate News
    • Economic Policies
  • Science & Environment
    • Space Exploration
    • Climate Change
    • Wildlife & Conservation
    • Environmental Policies
    • Medical Research
  • Health
    • Public Health
    • Mental Health
    • Medical Breakthroughs
    • Fitness & Nutrition
    • Pandemic Updates
  • Sports
    • Football
    • Basketball
    • Tennis
    • Olympics
    • Motorsport
  • Entertainment
    • Movies
    • Music
    • TV & Streaming
    • Celebrity News
    • Awards & Festivals
  • Crime & Justice
    • Court Cases
    • Cybercrime
    • Policing
    • Criminal Investigations
    • Legal Reforms
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • World News
    • Us & Canada
    • Europe
    • Asia
    • Africa
    • Middle East
  • Politics
    • Elections
    • Political Parties
    • Government Policies
    • International Relations
    • Legislative News
  • Business & Finance
    • Market Trends
    • Stock Market
    • Entrepreneurship
    • Corporate News
    • Economic Policies
  • Science & Environment
    • Space Exploration
    • Climate Change
    • Wildlife & Conservation
    • Environmental Policies
    • Medical Research
  • Health
    • Public Health
    • Mental Health
    • Medical Breakthroughs
    • Fitness & Nutrition
    • Pandemic Updates
  • Sports
    • Football
    • Basketball
    • Tennis
    • Olympics
    • Motorsport
  • Entertainment
    • Movies
    • Music
    • TV & Streaming
    • Celebrity News
    • Awards & Festivals
  • Crime & Justice
    • Court Cases
    • Cybercrime
    • Policing
    • Criminal Investigations
    • Legal Reforms
No Result
View All Result
Today Headline
No Result
View All Result
Home Science & Environment Wildlife & Conservation

Scheme to release beavers into wild in England has stalled, say nature experts

August 9, 2025
in Wildlife & Conservation
Reading Time: 4 mins read
A A
0
3
SHARES
6
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter


When the first pair of beavers to be legally released in England crawled sleepily from their crates into the ponds of Purbeck Heath in Dorset, it seemed like a watershed moment for wildlife in the UK.

Wildlife charities rejoiced as ministers finally agreed for the nature-boosting rodents to be released, subject to licence, into the wild. Nature-friendly farmers kept an eager eye out for the application forms, hoping they could host the fascinating creatures on their land.

But nature experts say the scheme has stalled, with not a single licence granted since those beavers were let loose on the National Trust reserve in March. The Guardian understands 40 expressions of interest have been sent to the government since then, 20 of which are from the Wildlife Trusts, but none have yet been granted a release licence.

Farmers who have tried to get a licence have found the application process flummoxing, saying some require 100,000 words – longer than some PhDs – and that it requires specialist ecological knowledge that many of them do not have.

Stephen Bailey, a farmer near Sandleheath in west Hampshire, said his farm, which features a chalk stream, water meadows and copious willow, which the rodents eat, was “a perfect place for beavers”.

He therefore applied to release some. Bailey said: “As soon as I heard that wild beaver releases were going to be allowed, I applied for an expression of interest form. And the amount of stuff I had to read, I filled out the form the best I could, did my best, but of course Natural England just came back and said no.”

He said Natural England told him he could reapply if he would accommodate the entire Hampshire beaver release project, as no one else on the catchment had applied to release them. Bailey explained: “They said ‘you’re the only person on the Hampshire catchment who has applied to do the Hampshire and we need someone who will accommodate the whole thing.’ So I reapplied myself to do the whole lot. And [said] if there are any farmers who objected, they could come and see me. And I submitted it, but I haven’t heard back.”

Nature groups have been campaigning for the return of beavers into the wild. They are often referred to as “ecosystem engineers”. They make changes to their habitats, such as coppicing trees, damming smaller watercourses, and digging “beaver canal” systems. These activities create diverse and dynamic wetlands that can bring enormous benefits to other species, such as otters, water shrews, water voles, birds, invertebrates and breeding fish, as well as sequestering carbon.

They can also help farmers as the pools they dig hold water on the land, and keep the soil damper and more resilient to droughts.

The Wildlife Trusts have also struggled to get beavers released on their reserves, despite their specialist knowledge.

Craig Bennett, the CEO of the charity, said: “There is of course, a frustration, not least among the Wildlife Trusts, that sometimes doing these applications involves writing the equivalent of a PhD. I mean, literally, some of these applications are 90,000 to 100,000 words. It’s quite extraordinary.

“It’s funny, isn’t it, how there are some parts of political spectrum that go on all the time about deregulation of environmental protections we need to keep and yet, actually, sometimes we have extraordinary regulations that are put on us on the business of nature recovery at times, and hold us back on nature recovery. We need to look at that. People are really excited about the return of this native animal to Britain, but what it does highlight in this whole discussion is actually what we need to do in Britain is not just learn to live with beavers. Actually, we need to learn again how to coexist with wildlife again.”

Angelika Von Heimendahl, the beaver reintroduction manager for the Wildlife Trusts, said: “The Wildlife Trusts, and also the National Trust, we have quite a lot of really trained, experienced people. I think we’ve submitted very good expressions of interest, and I think there has to be a meaningful move from the government to release numbers of beavers into areas that are well researched, have had stakeholder involvement and not just a pittance.

“We also don’t want to spend all our time and money jumping through hoops. We want to spend our money on the beavers, on the farming, on the learning about them.”

A Natural England spokesperson said: “Reintroducing beavers to our landscapes is a significant milestone, and we are committed to considering any expression of interest and supporting full applications. It is important that species reintroductions are conducted carefully, to secure long-term environmental benefits while avoiding potential risks.”

This article by Helena Horton was first published by The Guardian on 30 July 2025. Lead Image: A beaver makes its way to the water after being released at Purbeck Heath in Dorset in March. Photograph: Andrew Matthews/PA.

Wildlife in catastrophic decline

The 73% decline in vertebrate wildlife populations during the last 50 years (mammals, birds, amphibians, reptiles and fish), is primarily driven by human activities that threaten biodiversity.

Habitat Loss and Degradation – human activities like deforestation, urbanization, and agriculture have led to the destruction and fragmentation of natural habitats.

Overexploitation of Resources – hunting, fishing and wildlife trafficking lead to the depletion of populations and the loss of biodiversity.

Invasive Species – the introduction of non-native species disrupt ecosystems, compete with native species, and threaten their survival.

Pollution – air, water, and soil pollution from industrial activities, agriculture, and other sources harm wildlife directly or indirectly by affecting their habitats and food sources.

Climate Change – changing weather patterns, rising temperatures, and sea levels are disrupting ecosystems and impacting species’ ability to adapt and survive.

Help to protect wildlife

Help to protect wildlife by donating as little as $5 – it only takes a minute! 

Our conservation partners spend at least 90 percent of the money raised on actual fieldwork rather than administration and fundraising.



Tags: beaversEnglandExpertsnaturereleaseschemestalledwild
Previous Post

Beto O’Rourke blocked from financially supporting Texas Democrats who fled state in redistricting standoff

Next Post

Chikungunya Virus Cases Swell in China — Here’s What to Know About the Mosquito-Borne Disease todayheadline

Related Posts

ywAAAAAAQABAAACAUwAOw==

Petition: Add the Bollanolla Range to Australia’s Great Koala National Park – Protect Koala Habitat Now

August 8, 2025
8

Four Montagu’s harrier chicks take flight in first UK breeding success since 2019

August 7, 2025
4
Next Post
Chikungunya Virus Cases Swell in China — Here's What to Know About the Mosquito-Borne Disease

Chikungunya Virus Cases Swell in China — Here's What to Know About the Mosquito-Borne Disease todayheadline

  • Trending
  • Comments
  • Latest
Family calls for change after B.C. nurse dies by suicide after attacks on the job

Family calls for change after B.C. nurse dies by suicide after attacks on the job

April 2, 2025
Pioneering 3D printing project shares successes

Product reduces TPH levels to non-hazardous status

November 27, 2024

Police ID man who died after Corso Italia fight

December 23, 2024

Hospital Mergers Fail to Deliver Better Care or Lower Costs, Study Finds todayheadline

December 31, 2024
Harris tells supporters 'never give up' and urges peaceful transfer of power

Harris tells supporters ‘never give up’ and urges peaceful transfer of power

0
Des Moines Man Accused Of Shooting Ex-Girlfriend's Mother

Des Moines Man Accused Of Shooting Ex-Girlfriend’s Mother

0

Trump ‘looks forward’ to White House meeting with Biden

0
Catholic voters were critical to Donald Trump’s blowout victory: ‘Harris snubbed us’

Catholic voters were critical to Donald Trump’s blowout victory: ‘Harris snubbed us’

0
UCLA study reveals complex muscle control behind blinking and eyelid function

Study maps intricate muscle patterns behind blinking and eyelid movement

August 9, 2025
Azerbaijan Airlines passenger plane crashes in Aktau, Kazakhstan

Zelenskyy rejects Trump’s proposal that Ukraine could swap territories with Russia

August 9, 2025
Canada’s PM Carney announces billions in defence spending to hit NATO target

Canada’s PM Carney announces billions in defence spending to hit NATO target

August 9, 2025
What will planned Putin-Trump meeting be about? – DW – 08/09/2025

What will planned Putin-Trump meeting be about? – DW – 08/09/2025

August 9, 2025

Recent News

UCLA study reveals complex muscle control behind blinking and eyelid function

Study maps intricate muscle patterns behind blinking and eyelid movement

August 9, 2025
6
Azerbaijan Airlines passenger plane crashes in Aktau, Kazakhstan

Zelenskyy rejects Trump’s proposal that Ukraine could swap territories with Russia

August 9, 2025
3
Canada’s PM Carney announces billions in defence spending to hit NATO target

Canada’s PM Carney announces billions in defence spending to hit NATO target

August 9, 2025
6
What will planned Putin-Trump meeting be about? – DW – 08/09/2025

What will planned Putin-Trump meeting be about? – DW – 08/09/2025

August 9, 2025
5

TodayHeadline is a dynamic news website dedicated to delivering up-to-date and comprehensive news coverage from around the globe.

Follow Us

Browse by Category

  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Basketball
  • Business & Finance
  • Climate Change
  • Crime & Justice
  • Cybersecurity
  • Economic Policies
  • Elections
  • Entertainment
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Environmental Policies
  • Europe
  • Football
  • Gadgets & Devices
  • Health
  • Medical Research
  • Mental Health
  • Middle East
  • Motorsport
  • Olympics
  • Politics
  • Public Health
  • Relationships & Family
  • Science & Environment
  • Software & Apps
  • Space Exploration
  • Sports
  • Stock Market
  • Technology & Startups
  • Tennis
  • Travel
  • Uncategorized
  • Us & Canada
  • Wildlife & Conservation
  • World News

Recent News

UCLA study reveals complex muscle control behind blinking and eyelid function

Study maps intricate muscle patterns behind blinking and eyelid movement

August 9, 2025
Azerbaijan Airlines passenger plane crashes in Aktau, Kazakhstan

Zelenskyy rejects Trump’s proposal that Ukraine could swap territories with Russia

August 9, 2025
  • Education
  • Lifestyle
  • Technology & Startups
  • About us
  • Contact
  • Advertise with Us
  • Privacy & Policy

© 2024 Todayheadline.co

Welcome Back!

OR

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
No Result
View All Result
  • Business & Finance
  • Corporate News
  • Economic Policies
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Market Trends
  • Crime & Justice
  • Court Cases
  • Criminal Investigations
  • Cybercrime
  • Legal Reforms
  • Policing
  • Education
  • Higher Education
  • Online Learning
  • Entertainment
  • Awards & Festivals
  • Celebrity News
  • Movies
  • Music
  • Health
  • Fitness & Nutrition
  • Medical Breakthroughs
  • Mental Health
  • Pandemic Updates
  • Lifestyle
  • Fashion & Beauty
  • Food & Drink
  • Home & Living
  • Politics
  • Elections
  • Government Policies
  • International Relations
  • Legislative News
  • Political Parties
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Europe
  • Middle East
  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Cybersecurity
  • Emerging Technologies
  • Gadgets & Devices
  • Industry Analysis
  • Basketball
  • Football
  • Motorsport
  • Olympics
  • Climate Change
  • Environmental Policies
  • Medical Research
  • Science & Environment
  • Space Exploration
  • Wildlife & Conservation
  • Sports
  • Tennis
  • Technology & Startups
  • Software & Apps
  • Startup Success Stories
  • Startups & Innovations
  • Tech Regulations
  • Venture Capital
  • Uncategorized
  • World News
  • Us & Canada
  • Public Health
  • Relationships & Family
  • Travel
  • Research & Innovation
  • Scholarships & Grants
  • School Reforms
  • Stock Market
  • TV & Streaming
  • Advertise with Us
  • Privacy & Policy
  • About us
  • Contact

© 2024 Todayheadline.co