A public consultation run by Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust earlier this year has found that the majority of those who responded would support the release of wild beavers on the Island.
The Trust mailed a questionnaire to every home on the island in February, asking residents for their views on a potential release of the aquatic mammals in the Eastern Yar valley.
A total of 4,883 people responded to the consultation with 89% stating they feel positive about beavers being released on the Isle of Wight.
The survey results confirmed 88% of respondents believe beavers would benefit other wildlife on the Isle of Wight, while 81% of people felt the mammals would positively impact local flooding and water quality.
Of those who completed the questionnaire, 73% said they thought beavers could boost the local economy on the Isle of Wight, while 87% thought the presence of beavers would contribute to people’s ability to connect with nature.
The public survey, which was also available to complete online, was closed after 3 months but the consultation remains ongoing. The Trust’s dedicated Beaver Recovery Project Officer, Izzie Tween, continues to engage with landowners and communities on the island to review the impacts of the proposed beaver release
Some residents have raised questions about the potential impacts of beavers on the island, especially those who live in closer proximity to a watercourse.
Izzie Tween, from Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust, said:
“It’s encouraging that a majority of respondents are in favour of a beaver release on the Isle of Wight and see the benefits beavers could bring.
“We also recognise and value those who raised comments and concerns. We’ll continue to consult and liaise closely with stakeholders, especially local landowners who may be directly impacted in the event of a release.
“Ultimately, as a Trust, we believe a beaver release on the Isle of Wight could offer a wealth of opportunities to enhance our climate resilience, restore nature and boost the local economy for many years to come.”
Following the public consultation, the Trust hopes to submit a licence application – which is needed for any beaver release in the UK – to Natural England.
Currently, though, Natural England are not accepting licence applications while it works with DEFRA to finalise the national beaver strategy after running their own public consultation last year.
However, farmers generally oppose the idea, as previously reported by Island Echo.
The Trust has made a full analysis of the consultation results available on its website. To find this and to learn more about Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust’s beaver recovery project, visit hiwwt.org.uk/beaver-recovery-network
Bet the ones who voted for the Beavers, don’t live by the rivers.
In what sense? Beaver dams help prevent flooding events and allow for a more naural and sustainable ecosystem. This change in flow also allows for biodiversity gain. As someone who owns land with rivers/streams in and as an environmental and fluvial scientist I can say that the reintroduction of Beavers is certainly a positive. Of course there would be some drawbacks however, they are not significant enough when compared to the positives in this case.
Yes, we know that they do what you say, but there are no areas of the Island big enough and wild enough to support beaver populations.
The Trust mailed a questionnaire to every home on the island in February. That statement is NOT true as I most definitely did not receive one. Less house building on greenfield sites especially near to watercourses would have a bigger impact on restoring nature. On the one hand you want to restore nature yet on the other hand you remove it by building on green fields, make your mind up. I personally would like to know more about the negative impact beavers have.
I never received any survey
Nor me, truth gone walkabout here me thinks.
More fudging of statistics to suit someone! 88% of a sampled number doesn’t definitely indicate 88% of the populous.
Most of those responding are doubtless totally clueless as to what beaver release ACTUALLY means, (rather think they are cute and fluffy and why not) and also those in favour would be predicated to vote in favour. Also 4900 responses out of a population of about 150,000 isnt really representative.
I never received any mail about this , and was not made aware you could vote on this online either. Strange that.
This is a foolish idea (and the IOW Wildlifes Trust’s ideas as to how this is monitored and managed is farcical beyond belief) and should be nipped in the bud NOW.
So who rigged that survey?
The badgers ate all the pencils I expect
Anyone else get the survey in the post, or know about it online? No? me neither
Every home on the Island I don’t think so. Never had one and as under 5000 replied me thinks a lot of homes never received one either
I really love beavers.
I agree, there is nothing like a nice beaver!
I love beavers, in Canada
I prefer the Brazilian version myself as less chance of flooding etc.
Lol….don’t like fishy beavers, make me gag.
‘The Trust mailed a questionnaire to every home on the island in February’ Sorry, but that’s just simply a lie. I never received one and, judging by the comments here, nor did a lot of other people. Asking around this morning, no-one I know received one either. I think what they probably did was to mail a questionnaire to a carefully selected small number of addresses and then extrapolate the replies up to match the population of the whole Island.
It’s such a silly thing to claim because now I’m not going to trust anything else they say about the release of beavers on the Island.
The Trust mailed a questionnaire to every home on the island in February ??? Still waiting for mine to arrive ??
i’m guessing the 80% are the one’s that won’t be affected by them
nice beaver!!!!!!!!!!!!
There has never ever been a record of beavers on the Isle of Wight but in the 16th century, the last time they were recorded anywhere in England, Brading was a port with the harbour stretching from Brading right down to what is now Bembridge Harbour.
When the Eastern Yar floods from Yar Bridge to Bembridge that is the closest we come to the natural state it would have been the last time beavers were anywhere in the UK.
There is absolutely no justification whatsoever for introducing beavers, an alien species to the IW, to the upper reaches of the river to create new flooding away from it’s natural and historical site.
As many of you look at Island Echo news, me included, it was featured back in February and you could go to a link and have your say.
That 80% is totally irrelevant, What percentage of the Island’s adult population want beavers in the wild on the Island. ? The few pleasant silvan spots that we have by rivers would be wrecked. Beavers have their place in localities big enough to support them well away from homes, farms and areas of high population.. The Island just is not wild enough.
We had two in post- 1 each for myself and son.
No doubt the missing ones went in the recycling without being read or even opened.
We had two surveys in post. One each for myself and son.
No doubt the missing ones went straight in the recycling without being read or even opened!
does your son like beavers ?
Lovely bit of beaver
Well well we’ll, how predictable.
Beaver jokes– yawn
I didn’t get a survey either.
I lived in Canada on the Red deer river which was full over beavers. They are large animals, lovely but I’d agree are we equipped for them here? If so, why not but get the facts right first.
We received the survey. I also attended a talk at Vectis Archaeological Trust where we were informed there is archaeological evidence of beavers on the island many years ago.
there were bears and wolves once on the island are they going to bring them back as well