Beavers are large aquatic rodents, around the size of a labrador. The have a broad flat tail, covered with scales, and webbed feet; adaptations that help them move around in the water. They are mainly nocturnal, appearing just before sunset, but can be active by daylight in quieter areas.

Yes. The Eurasian Beaver (Castor fiber) is native to UK shores and was once widespread. Beavers once played a crucial role in forming our wetland landscapes. Beavers were present in the landscape from prehistoric times, until the 16th century, when they were hunted to extinction for their fur, meat and scent glands.

Beavers are semi-aquatic which means they live partly on land and partly in water. Ideal habitat for Beavers would be an area of fresh water surrounded by woodland.

Beavers have a good sense of hearing, smell and touch but their eyesight is poor, and they are slow on land, so they rarely go more than twenty meters away from water. They build dams and canals to create ideal living conditions to provide water routes to and from food sources.

Beavers are herbivores. They eat leaves, bark, twigs, roots and aquatic plants. Despite their eagerness to cut down trees they do not eat wood. Instead, they eat the cellulose underneath the bark and use the wood to build dams and lodges.

Research shows that most Beaver foraging takes place 10 meters from the watercourse.

They particularly enjoy fast-growing species such as Willow, Poplar, Aspen, Hazel and Birch. These trees readily coppice, meaning that when a Beaver cuts down the main trunk, the tree does not die, but quickly sends up new shoots. This coppicing of trees creates more complexity in the canopy, letting more light in in places, and providing more diversity of structure which creates essential habitat for other species.

Dams are multi-functional, leaky structures. One of the primary reasons for constructing dams is that by slowing the flow and creating areas of deeper water, extremes in water levels are avoided. This keeps pond levels stable and lodge/burrow entrances submerged, protecting them from predators.

Beavers are slow on land but more nimble in the water, so if any danger arises, they need to be close enough to the water’s edge to get away quickly.

Beavers eat, sleep, keep warm and raise their young in lodges. Beavers build lodges out of woody debris, twigs and soil. Lodges can be found in the middle of a Beaver-built pond or at the side of a river.

Lodges are accessed via water-filled tunnels which keep the Beaver safe from predators. They also use them as food stores to keep them going during the winter months.

The relationship between Beaver dams and fish is complex and varies depending on the river, water levels and season.

Research from Britain and Europe shows that while some dams can temporarily slow fish movement during periods of low flow, they are often passable during higher flows or where fish can use side channels. Beaver wetlands can also create valuable habitat for fish by providing deeper pools, shelter and nursery areas.

Recent studies, including work in Scotland and on the River Otter in Devon, have found that species such as Brown Trout can benefit from the increased habitat diversity created by Beavers.

The River Eden is internationally important for Atlantic salmon and fisheries interests will play a key role in developing the management plan to ensure local conditions are fully considered.

No. Beavers are herbivores. They feed on leaves, bark, twigs, roots and aquatic plants and do not eat fish.

Cumbria Connect is co-ordinating the development of a proposed wild release licence application following confirmation of a protected wild Beaver population in the Eden Catchment.

Working with Natural England, the Cumbria Beaver Group and a wide range of partners, our role is to help develop a responsible, evidence-led proposal that considers both the opportunities and challenges of living alongside beavers.

We believe any future decisions about Beavers should be informed by practical experience and meaningful engagement with the people who live and work in the catchment.

As a partnership bringing together environmental organisations, landowners and other stakeholders, Cumbria Connect is well placed to co-ordinate this work, ensuring different perspectives are heard and helping to develop a balanced, practical proposal for Natural England to consider.

We want to ensure local knowledge, experience and views help shape any future proposals.

Natural England has invited Cumbria Connect to prepare a full wild release licence application. Developing that application will include consultation with local communities, landowners, farmers, fisheries interests, businesses, environmental organisations and statutory agencies.

We recognise that people will have questions and, in some cases, concerns. This consultation provides an opportunity to discuss those openly, learn from experience elsewhere in the UK and help inform a long-term management plan for the Eden Catchment.

No.

Natural England has approved an Expression of Interest and invited Cumbria Connect to prepare a full licence application. This is an important milestone, but it is not approval to release more Beavers.

Over the coming year, evidence will be gathered, a detailed management plan will be developed and consultation will take place across the Eden Catchment.

Once the application is complete, Natural England will decide whether or not to grant a licence.

The Eden Catchment is already home to a protected wild Beaver population, confirmed by Natural England following evidence gathered on the River Lowther.

Covering approximately 2,400 square kilometres, the catchment is one of England’s finest river systems. It stretches from the fells above Kirkby Stephen to the Solway Firth and includes the rivers Eden, Lowther, Eamont, Petteril, Caldew and Irthing, alongside Haweswater and Ullswater.

The catchment contains internationally important rivers and habitats, with parts lying within the Lake District National Park, Yorkshire Dales National Park, North Pennines National Landscape and Solway Coast National Landscape. It is also designated as a Special Area of Conservation (SAC) and Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), supporting species including Atlantic salmon, white-clawed crayfish, freshwater pearl mussels and otters.

Natural England has advised that developing a licensed approach offers the most responsible way to manage the existing protected wild Beaver population while considering how a healthy and genetically diverse population could become established across suitable parts of the catchment.

By taking a catchment-wide approach, the project can consider both the opportunities and challenges of Beavers at a landscape scale, working with local communities, landowners, farmers, fisheries interests and statutory agencies to develop a practical long-term management plan.

At present, no one knows exactly how many wild Beavers are living within the Eden Catchment.

Natural England has officially confirmed two wild Beavers during 2025 and there is increasing evidence of Beaver activity, including sightings, across the River Lowther catchment.

As part of developing the licence application, additional monitoring and research will help build a clearer picture of where beavers are living and how the population is developing over time.

Natural England.

Cumbria Connect is responsible for preparing the application in partnership with the Cumbria Beaver Group and other organisations, but the decision on whether to grant a licence rests entirely with Natural England.

Before making any decision, Natural England will consider the evidence, proposed management arrangements, consultation findings and whether the application meets the legal requirements for licensing.

There will be many opportunities to get involved over the coming year.

We will be holding community events, stakeholder meetings, information sessions and consultation activities across the Eden Catchment. There will also be opportunities to provide feedback online and sign up for regular project updates.

We encourage everyone with an interest in the future of beavers in the Eden Catchment to take part, whether you are a landowner, farmer, angler, local resident, business, community group or simply interested in nature recovery.

Your feedback will help shape the licence application and long-term management plan before it is submitted to Natural England for consideration.

If you have a question or would like to contact the project team, please email beavers@connectfornature.org.uk