Beaver Colony Thrives as Somerset Rewilding Project Sees Early Success

A former dairy farm in Somerset is showing encouraging signs of ecological recovery after being transformed through a large-scale rewilding project.

Heal Rewilding purchased the 460-acre site, located between Frome and Bruton, three years ago with the aim of allowing nature to reclaim the land.

Since then, a colony of beavers has settled on the site, building dams along tributaries of the River Frome and creating a series of ponds and wetland habitats. Conservationists say five beaver kits have also been born this year, marking another milestone for the project.

The charity says it spent its first two years observing the land rather than actively managing it, allowing natural processes to shape the landscape while monitoring wildlife and habitat changes.

Official Statements

Jan Stannard, Chief Executive of Heal Rewilding, said the charity deliberately took a patient approach after acquiring the site.

"We simply stood back and watched," she said.

"We let the grasses grow and carried out surveys to understand everything from insect populations to birds and bats."

According to the charity's first monitoring report, 94 bird species have been recorded since 2023, including 21 species listed as being of high conservation concern and 28 classed as amber-listed.

The number of butterfly species recorded has also increased from 11 to 24, while surveys have found growing populations of mice and voles.

Background

Beavers became extinct in Britain around 400 years ago after extensive hunting, but have gradually returned through conservation and reintroduction projects over the past two decades.

Today, it is estimated that around 500 beavers live in England.

Their dams help slow the movement of water, creating wetlands that support a wide variety of plants and animals. Conservation experts also say these natural barriers can help reduce flooding downstream while improving water quality and biodiversity.

Heal Rewilding believes projects like this can also contribute to tackling climate change by restoring healthy ecosystems that store carbon, improve soil quality and strengthen resilience to extreme weather.

The site has also become a regular meeting place for Wild Memories, a local support group for people living with dementia.

Julia Galbenu, who works with the group, said spending time outdoors can help trigger long-term memories through familiar sights, sounds and smells.

She said the natural environment creates opportunities for conversation, reflection and meaningful connections, describing it as a place where "a little bit of healing gets to happen."

Following the project's early success, Heal Rewilding plans to establish a similar recovery site in Yorkshire.

The charity says its long-term ambition is to create a network of rewilding projects across every county in England.