Calls to release beavers into Greater Manchester’s rivers

Calls have been made to introduce beavers into Greater Manchester’s waterways as a way to cut the risk of flooding. A meeting of Bury Council heard the authority’s environment lead, Coun Alan Quinn, extol the benefits of the large rodents as part of a range of natural flood management measures.

Answering a question about recent flash flooding in Bury after rain storms, he said: “On a serious point I’d love to see the introduction beavers to waterways in Greater Manchester. They do flood management for free. Wherever they’ve been introduced they have cut flooding.

“It’s remarkable what they can do.” According to The Beaver Society, the creatures build dams to increase and maintain the water depth in their territory to and protect them from predators.

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The dams keep the entrances to their multiple burrows and lodges submerged. There is a general agreement among those who study the impact of beavers that they help revert land to its more natural state.

The beaver is native to Britain and used to be widespread in England, Wales and Scotland. They became extinct in the 16th century, mainly because of hunting for their fur, meat and ‘castoreum’, a secretion used in perfumes, food and medicine.

Environmental groups believe the re-establishment of beavers would have a significant positive influence on the environment. In Scotland, there are currently two populations of beavers.

In Argyll, where a successful trial ran from 2009-2014, a small population continues with help from some further licenced releases. In the east of Scotland there is an expanding population of beavers which currently inhabits the Tay and Forth catchments.

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