Beavers are playing an innovative role in flood prevention efforts in the Forest of Dean, following severe flooding caused by Storm Bert in November 2024. During the storm, approximately 50 homes in Lydney were inundated after the River Lyd overflowed due to intense rainfall that amounted to a month’s worth of precipitation within just two days.
At a Forest of Dean District Council overview and scrutiny committee meeting on July 17, officials reviewed lessons learned from the multi-agency emergency response to the flooding. Efforts to naturally slow water flow upstream from Lydney were highlighted, revealing that beavers are an integral part of the strategy.
Councillor Trevor Roach raised the idea of increasing beaver populations to aid water management by forming natural log jams. James Blockley, Gloucestershire County Council’s principal flood risk management officer, confirmed this approach is already underway in collaboration with Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust and Forestry England.
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“We have two captive beaver releases in the Forest of Dean,” Blockley explained. “The most recent at Perry Hay is progressing well. Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust is concluding a comprehensive consultation on wild beaver reintroduction.”
Blockley emphasized that habitat restoration efforts create ideal environments for beavers, making them a valuable natural tool for flood mitigation. “The beavers at Perry Hay are building impressive structures that help demonstrate the potential of wild releases,” he said.
The reintroduction of beavers began in 2018 near Lydbrook, aimed at improving biodiversity and slowing water flow during heavy rains along Greathough Brook. These semi-aquatic rodents immediately began cutting trees to build dams and lodges, enhancing wetland habitats.
Despite setbacks, including the loss of the original female beaver, the population has grown—with new kits born in 2023 and 2024. In May 2024, a second pair from Scotland and Devon were released at Perry Hay near Mallards Pike to expand the environmental benefits.
The ongoing use of beavers showcases the effectiveness of combining natural wildlife behaviors with flood risk management, offering a hopeful outlook for protecting communities in the Forest of Dean.