Why are beavers important?
Beavers play a vital role in enriching biodiversity. They are known as a ‘keystone species’ because their activities can benefit a wide range of other animals and plants that live in rivers and wetlands.
Beavers were once widespread across Wales, but due to hunting by humans for their fur, meat and scent glands, they became extinct after the Middle Ages in Wales. By the end of the 1500s, they were extinct from the rest of Britain too.
Why at Amelia Trust Farm?
A feasibility study undertaken by experts from the Welsh Beaver Project, the Beaver Trust and University of Exeter concluded that Amelia Trust Farm has a highly suitable habitat for beavers where the pond area offers stable water levels and very rich feeding.
For our visitors, the beaver project will provide a range of engagement and education opportunities so that we can all learn more about how beavers are nature’s engineers and are very special animals because they play a vital role in enriching biodiversity by restoring and managing river and wetland ecosystems.
Next Steps
A licence has been issued by Natural Resources Wales for the release of a maximum of 6 Eurasian beaver into a secure enclosure at Amelia Trust Farm which has been built to the latest best practice specifications. The beavers need to be sourced with the help of beaver experts from the Welsh Beaver Project and they will have full medical checks and health screening before they are moved to the Amelia Trust Farm.
Feedback about the Project
“I think beavers would be a great addition to the Farm and would absolutely enhance the visitor experience. Educational talks and opportunities for children to learn about beavers would be great”.
“Would be very excited to bring the kids to learn about Beavers somewhere so close to home”.
“Development and education is key to making the farm more appealing to visitors”.
