Two Eurasian beavers released at Shrewsbury wildlife site in 'crucial' move for Shropshire's wetlands
A pair of Eurasian beavers have been released at a nature reserve in the centre of Shrewsbury.
Watch more of our videos on ShotsTV.com
and on Freeview 262 or Freely 565
The project, a partnership between Shropshire Wildlife Trust and Shrewsbury Town Council, is one of a few urban releases in England, and will see the beavers manage and restore the wetland habitat on the 8.5 hectare site.
The Shrewsbury pair, who were relocated from Scotland, were released into their new home this afternoon (Friday, February 7) at the town council’s Old River Bed nature reserve.
The two adult beavers, a male and female, have been released as part of a five-year trial to assess the impact of this keystone species on an existing wetland site.
The Old River Bed, owned by Shrewsbury Town Council, is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) that is protected for the wetland plants found there.
The habitat is under threat from fast-growing trees such as willow, which would eventually dry out the site.
Shrewsbury Town Council found that traditional methods used to manage the site, such as tree removal and livestock grazing, were no longer sustainable.
