Beavers back after 400 years

It is hoped the Beavers will bring many benefits to the area.

Environment Secretary, Michael Gove, is releasing two Eurasian beavers into an enclosure near Lydbrook village today, in the hope that these semi-aquatic mammals will reduce the risk of flooding for the district.

The structure of the beavers' dams store large depths of water which reduces the risk of flooding for villages in aquatic areas, such as Lydbrook in the Forest of Dean.

The beavers will be kept in a 6.5 hectare enclosure and monitored regularly over the first 3 year period.

Rebecca Wilson, West England Forest District, Forestry Commission called the beavers, 'natural habitat engineers'.

She believes the mammals will bring a new form of biodiversity to the region.

Hunted to extinction over 400 years ago due to the high demand for their valuable fur and oil, the return of these beavers to the Forest of Dean is highly anticipated.

Mr Gove is also announcing today his plan to give £20,000 of funding to the beaver project in Devon.

He claims, “The project is an example of our wider approach to enhancing biodiversity."