Eco & Environment, Nature & Wildlife | Posted on March 20th, 2026 | return to news

Have your say on returning wild beavers to Dorset

What’s your opinion on the reintroduction of beavers to Dorset’s wild places?

Dorset Wildlife Trust has launched a public consultation to explore the reintroduction of wild beavers to parts of the county. The move follows licensed releases at Studland and elsewhere in the South West, as well as five years of monitoring at the Trust’s enclosed beaver project on the River Hooke.

Since a pair of beavers was introduced there in 2021, studies have shown their activity has transformed the site. Natural behaviours such as coppicing (cutting trees down) dam-building can slow water flow, boost biodiversity and improve resilience to drought and flooding.

Beavers are now recognised as a native species in England, and the UK government has committed to supporting their return to suitable areas. As such, the Trust has submitted an expression of interest for a potential wild release in the River Hooke and wider River Frome catchment.

Over the coming months, it will engage with landowners, communities and the public through events and an online survey. There will be three drop-in meetings for members of the public to come along and learn about the potential benefits of wild beaver release. These will take place on:

Saturday 11 April from 9am–3pm at Maiden Newton Village Hall
Saturday 18 April from 9am–4pm at Dorchester Town Hall at the Corn Exchange
Saturday 2 May from 9am–4pm at Wareham Corn Exchange

Dorset Wildlife Trust’s Rivers Conservation Officer Steve Oliver said the consultation would help shape any future plans.

He added: “Our enclosed project has given us clear, sciencebased evidence of the multiple benefits beavers can bring to Dorset’s rivers and wetlands. Wild beavers are already present in parts of the county, but any future releases in new locations must be shaped by the people who live and work here.”

The Trust emphasised that no decisions have yet been made and the consultation will play a role in deciding whether to apply for a full licence. Members of the public are invited to take part and share their views at: dorsetwildlifetrust.org.uk/BeaverSurvey.

To find out more, visit dorsetwildlifetrust.org.uk/BeaverConsultation.