Beavers brought in to beat the continuous flooding in Britain

Beavers will be reintroduced in two parts of Britain as part of plans to help control flooding, the National Trust announced on Wednesday.

The charity, which manages historic properties and countryside, said it aimed to release Eurasian beavers at two sites in southern England early next year.

"The dams the beavers create will hold water in dry periods, help lessen flash-flooding downstream and reduce erosion, and improve water quality by holding silt," said Ben Eardley, project manager at one of the sites.

A mother beaver and her two kits on the River Otter near Budleigh Salterton, England. /VCG Photo

Beavers were hunted out of existence in Britain in the 16th century because of demand for their fur, meat and scent glands. There have been several instances of controlled reintroduction of the mammals, including in western Scotland.

Beavers have been described as "nature's engineers," whose work can help create wetland habitats to support a range of species from insects to wildfowl.

Beavers in river catchment areas would "help make our landscape more resilient to climate change and the extremes of weather it will bring," Eardley said. He will oversee the reintroduction of one pair of beavers at Holnicote, near Exmoor National Park in southwest England.

Another pair will be released on the Black Down Estate, on the edge of the South Downs on the English south coast. They will all be introduced in fenced-off woodland areas. Experts will then monitor consequent changes to the habitat. The National Trust is aiming to restore 25,000 hectares (62,000 acres) of "wildlife-rich habitats" by 2025, amid concerns of a decline in species since 1970.

A view of flooding near the village of Lower Apperley in Gloucestershire, where the river Severn has flooded the B4213 between Lower Apperley and Tirley, following the last few days of heavy rain, November 17, 2019. /VCG Photo

Aerial view of the village of Eckington near Pershore where the river Avon has burst its banks, November 17, 2019. /VCG Photo

A farm belonging to 28-year-old farmer Henry Ward at Bardney is marooned by floodwater after the Barlings Eau broke its banks. Over 1,500 acres of land has been flooded after this week's torrential rain, Lincoln, England, November 15, 2019. /VCG Photo

A BMW driver is stuck in water in the village of Whiston near Sheffield. Heavy rain is set to hit parts of Central and Northern England over Thursday causing widespread flooding, November 7, 2019. /VCG Photo

Aerial view of flooding in Worcester, where the rivers Severn and Teme meet, October 28, 2019. /VCG Photo

A resident walks down a flooded street in Finsbury Park, north London, after a pipe burst on Tuesday morning. /VCG Photo

A car is submerged in floodwater at Bardney, near Lincoln, after the Barlings Eau broke its banks, November 15, 2019. /VCG Photo

Parts of northern England have been hit by severe flooding in recent weeks, with some areas having their wettest autumn on record, according to the Met Office. Eighteen flood warnings were in place on Wednesday morning, with 58 further alerts notifying possible flooding, the Environment Agency said. Prolonged heavy rainfall, building on flood plains, poor flood defenses and maintenance of watercourses are among the contributing factors.

(Cover photo via VCG)

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Source(s): AFP