Cheshire Wildlife Trust are thrilled to be bringing beavers back to Cheshire after 400 years
Beavers are native to Cheshire but they became extinct in England in the 16th century, mainly because of hunting for their fur, meat and 'castoreum', a secretion used in perfumes, food and medicine. Despite centuries of absence from our landscape, evidence of their presence can still be seen. For example. Bar Mere in south Cheshire gets its name from the word beaver.
As part of a five-year project, a pair of beavers will be released into a 4.5 hectare enclosure near Hatchmere in Delamere. The beavers will create a new landscape as they adapt to their surroundings. Removing trees will break up the canopy, allowing sunlight on to ground vegetation and bringing the woodland floor to life. With their dams holding back water on the site, water flow is slowed, dropping out the polluted sediments that would otherwise flow into Hatchmere lake It will also make new space for insects, invertebrates and fish.
More on:
Posted On: 18/08/2020