It’s been 400 years since beavers graced the Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust’s Idle Valley Nature Reserve, but now the conservation organization is looking to reintroduce the species – and they have the backing of a long-established company.
The ambitious plan is to build one of the largest beaver enclosures in England.
The organization says while many projects have only released one or two adult beavers, their North Nottinghamshire nature reserve will accommodate up to three families of beavers. The beavers are safely separated from the River Idle and closely monitored.
It was the organization’s unique activities to invest in wildflower meadow management and the campaign to introduce beavers in Nottinghamshire that attracted specialist rental company Vp plc.
Fred Pilkington, Environmental Program Manager at Vp plc, said: “We have been impressed with the innovative projects the Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust has undertaken to improve valuable habitats and local biodiversity. This integrated approach made the trust an attractive support option for the Vp Group.
“By supporting these projects, employees and their families have the opportunity to improve their connection with nature and get involved through first-hand experience.”
The support is part of a group-wide sustainability strategy to minimize CO2 emissions and the company’s environmental impact.
Fred added, “The group recognizes the critical value that functioning eco-service systems have in the natural delivery of a variety of services such as climate regulation, flood control, carbon sequestration and pollination.”
An example of how businesses can get involved in the Trust’s 30 Days Wild campaign, which encourages everyone to connect with nature in one way or another every day of June. It adds that this support will help implement its meadow management programs in its nature reserve in 2021, which are both important habitats for flowers and insects and important green spaces for the local population.
An important part of this management is taken over by several grazing sheep breeds (Herwicks and Hebrides) and cattle (Longhorns and Lincoln Reds) to provide a valuable ecosystem service that naturally controls their grazing of the scrub and minimizes the need for human intervention.
This targeted grazing provides improved habitats for breeding and host birds as well as benefits for a number of other important flora and fauna.
Hay meadow with a yellow rattle
(Image: Lee Schofield)
The Trust says its campaign to raise £ 250,000 to allow beavers to be reintroduced to Idle Valley Nature Reserve, its largest reserve in the county, is on the right track, and they believe the beavers are on the way to be released this summer.
It will be the largest enclosure in England.
nottinghamshirewildlife.org/support-us/business-partnerships or contact Emily Patrick on 07933 681 798 or email Epatrick@nottswt.co.uk