Having been extinct for hundreds of years in the UK, beavers are now being re-introduced because of the benefits they bring for biodiversity and flood protection. As many of you will know, we now have a healthy beaver population in the Avon catchment area and some specifically in the Frome at Freshford.
This talk will be by Dr Rob Needham, the Restoration Manager at the Beaver Trust. The Beaver Trust provides practical solutions to help people live alongside beavers and support legislation that rebuilds ecosystems and strengthens climate resilience in a time of ecological and climate crisis. The Beaver Trust have recently been working with Natural England to undertake health and genetic screening of wild beavers in the Avon / Frome and other catchments in the south-west.
Rob is an experienced field biologist, he has worked with large carnivores in Norway and more recently, beaver-related projects in Great Britain for nearly 15 years, beginning as the field officer for the Scottish Beaver Trial back in 2009. He conducted his PhD through the University of Southampton where he investigated the interactions of beaver habitat modification on brown trout populations in Northern Scotland. Rob is experienced in animal trapping and handling, survey techniques, data collection and analysis. He worked in Freshford on the Natural England beaver project.
Entrance FREE but donations are welcome on the night. There will be a bar with wine and non-alcoholic refreshments.
Photo credit: Scotland The Big Picture
