Beavers set to bring biodiversity boost to wetland - University of Southampton
A family of beavers has been reintroduced to a South Downs stream to help restore waterways and create a flourishing wildlife haven.
A groundbreaking project led by Meonside Farm and working with the University of Southampton and the National Park Authority has reintroduced the creatures to a rare chalk stream near Petersfield in Hampshire.
The Beaver Trust has helped to relocate two beavers from Scotland to the contained two-hectare site, where the University’s scientists will now study the ecological and geographical changes in the habitat over the coming years. Since the reintroduction in December, the pair are progressing well at the site and are being monitored by a wildlife cam.
The University of Southampton’s School of Geography and Environmental Science, supported by funding from the Sustainability Research Institute (SRI), are carrying out research into how the habitat, ecology and hydrology change over time as beavers modify the river and floodplain.
The University’s Professor David Sear, who leads the research programme, said: “We are delighted that the University is involved in this partnership. It is an important part of our civic and regional role to use our internationally excellent scientific capacity to support such initiatives. We are only just learning the role beavers played in the evolution of our rivers. We’re looking forward to understanding more about just how these animals transform chalk streams and to sharing that knowledge with other restoration practitioners and landowners.”
Posted On: 11/03/2025
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