Dorset Wildlife Trust is consulting on a potential wild beaver release project in the River Hooke and wider River Frome Catchment.
Beavers returned to Dorset in February 2021, when Dorset Wildlife Trust introduced an adult pair into an enclosed site in west Dorset as part of a scientific study looking at the impact beavers have on their environment, including hydrology and ecology. In October 2022, beavers were recognised as a resident native species in England once again and Natural England are now moving away from enclosed projects and are issuing licenses for wild beaver releases and are working with potentially viable projects across the country.
Dorset Wildlife Trust are consulting on 12 water bodies in the River Frome Catchment for beaver release. The proposed sites are:
- River Cerne
- River Frome, Dorset (headwaters)
- River Frome, Dorset (lower) downstream of Louds Mill, Dorchester
- River Frome, Dorset (lower) upstream of Louds Mill, Dorchester
- River Frome, Dorset (upper)
- River Frome, Dorset - tributary River Win
- River Frome, Dorset - tributary Luckford Lake
- River Hooke
- River Frome, Dorset - tributary South Winterbourne
- River Frome, Dorset - tributary Sydling Water
- River Frome, Dorset - tributary Tadnoll Brook (including Empool Bottom)
- River Frome, Dorset - tributary Wraxall Brook
Find out more about the project on the Public Consultation page of the Dorset Wildlife Trust website USING THIS LINK.
