How reintroducing beavers is changing our landscape

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Beavers are often described as natural engineers. Their dams, ponds and burrows reshape waterways in ways that slow the flow of water, store carbon and create new wetlands rich in wildlife.

University of Exeter hydrologist Prof Richard Brazier said the Devon project has already shown measurable impacts and evidence suggests nearby villages such as East Budleigh have experienced less flooding, as well as other areas.

"They're renowned for building dams that hold back the flow of water," he said.

"They create wonderful systems of ponds which store water, often right at the top of catchments.

"In doing so, the water flows down through the catchments more slowly. It doesn't occupy the floodplains where certain villages have been built, and other infrastructure like roads and railways now sit."

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