Engagement work is set to begin around plans for an enclosed beaver trial at a new county nature reserve.
A four-week consultation with communities local to Green Gates Nature Reserve, St Asaph, is underway regarding plans to house a family group of Eurasian beavers within a secure 24-acre enclosure at the site as part of a 5-year trial.
These plans subject to the granting of a licence from Natural Resources Wales, and will be the first enclosed beaver project in North Wales.
Beavers were once a widespread native species in Wales, before they were hunted to extinction in Britain and much of Europe for their fur, meat, and castoreum. After several successful reintroductions, there are now over 1500 beavers living in the Britain – mostly in Scotland and England.
In both Scotland and England, the Eurasian Beaver is now a European protected species, under Schedule 2 of the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2019.
There is currently a small population of Eurasian Beavers present in Wales both in enclosures and in the wild. As of the 26th September 2024, the Welsh Government supports moving towards the managed reintroduction of beavers in Wales
The Council has a biodiversity duty to “maintain and enhance biodiversity and in so doing promote the resilience of ecosystems” under the Environment (Wales) Act, 2016.
One of the Council’s priorities is to create a ‘Greener Denbighshire’ through enhancing, preserving, and improving our natural assets to support biodiversity, and growing the amount of habitat available for wildlife.
Joel Walley, Lead Officer - Ecology & Biodiversity, explained: “Often referred to as ‘ecosystem engineers’, there is much evidence that beavers can increase biodiversity within their environment through their dam building and foraging behaviours. We believe the addition of beavers to a secure enclosure within Green Gates Nature Reserve will create a dynamic and species-rich wetland habitat, helping us to achieve our biodiversity targets.
“Through this planned trial we aim to raise awareness and understanding of beavers and their ecology, and the potential benefits they can bring to Wales’ natural environment, as well as demonstrate some of the mitigation techniques that can be undertaken should any potential impacts arise as a result of beaver activity. Due to the location and careful design of the enclosure, we do not expect there to be any negative off-site impacts.
Councillor Barry Mellor, Lead Member for Environment and Transport, said:
“The potential creation of an enclosed beaver trial at Green Gates Nature Reserve represents a significant step in our work to restore native species, enhance biodiversity, and support resilient ecosystems in Denbighshire. What would be a carefully managed trial reflects our long-term commitment to ecological restoration, whilst providing opportunities for local residents to see and learn about this keystone species first-hand.”
The consultation will be held with the local communities. It is a public consultation and anyone will be able to respond to it. The purpose of the consultation is to identify any potential impacts of the proposed enclosed trial, and we will also be contacting all neighbouring landowners as part of this exercise around Green Gates before an application for a licence from Natural Resources Wales (NRW) for the enclosed beaver trial is submitted. NRW will determine if a licence is granted.
To access the consultation online please visit - Denbighshire Beaver Project, St Asaph | Cadnant Planning