Beaver release marks ‘new era for nature recovery’
For the first time, beavers have been legally released into the wild in England, a milestone that ecologists said marked “a new era for nature recovery” in the country.
Two pairs of Eurasian beavers were released on the Isle of Purbeck, Dorset, on Wednesday – less than a week after [the UK government approved the reintroduction of beavers to England](https://www.positive.news/society/good-news-stories-from-week-09-of-2025/).
Hunted to extinction in the UK around 400 years ago, beavers have been reintroduced to fenced sites across England, but nationwide approval had become bogged down in politics until last week.
Gen Crisford, beaver project officer at the National Trust, which led the release with the help of the Beaver Trust, said the return of the animals was a “watershed moment in the history of the species in England”.
“Beavers can sometimes cause conflict when they colonise areas where they aren’t wanted,” he added. “But by working with all the local landowners in advance to plan for their arrival and put measures in place where needed, we are confident that in Purbeck we will be able to demonstrate how beavers can work for everyone.”
_Image: Beaver Trust_