It was awesome to attend Willington Wetlands with The Derbyshire Wildlife to photograph the release and reintroduction of the Eurasian Beavers back in to Derbyshire for the first time in 800 years earlier this month (September 2021).
Beavers are known as a ‘keystone species’, meaning that they shape the ecosystem they inhabit. Beavers bring numerous benefits to the environment for both people and wildlife, so their role in restoring a lost ecosystem and brining benefits to areas prone to flooding is a win win situation!
Through dam building and ‘environmental engineering’, Beavers reduce flood risks, improve water quality and create wetland habitats that help other species.
This is the first part of the reintroduction scheme for the Derbyshire Wildlife Trust, with a second pair of adults, again one male and one female, being relocated to Willington Wetlands later in the year.
I am really pleased to see that my photographs taken on the day have already been published on The Derbyshire Wildlife Trust website, BBC Radio Derby and in The Derbyshire Telegraph.
Read a little more about the day in The Derby Telegraph;
Beavers reintroduced to Derbyshire after 400 years - Derbyshire Live (derbytelegraph.co.uk)