Landowners and communities in Hampshire and West Sussex are being given the opportunity to have their say about a potential beaver release project on the Western Rother.
In March 2025, the UK Government announced that it is now possible to release beavers into the wild in England with the appropriate licensing obtained through Natural England. Until this point beavers have only been allowed to be released in fenced areas in England.
An expression of interest to release beavers in the Western Rother catchment has been made, and Natural England have requested further information before a formal application for a license can be submitted.
To support this application the Western Rother Beaver Group (WRBG) has been formed, including representatives from the Environment Agency, Forestry Commission, Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group, Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust, National Trust, Natural England, NFU, RSPB, South Downs National Park Authority, Southern Water, Sussex Wildlife Trust, Western Sussex Rivers Trust and Wild Trout Trust.
The group is now calling for all landowners and community groups in the Western Rother area to drop into an Open Day on Wednesday 17th June to find out more about the potential project, as well as raise any concerns they may have about beavers returning to the river.
The Western Rother is a 52km river which runs from Empshott in Hampshire to join the River Arun at Stopham in West Sussex. It passes through the market towns of Petersfield, Midhurst and Petworth, as well as the picturesque villages of Liss and Fittleworth, with multiple chalk-fed streams and brooks joining the river along the way.
David Oakley from the Wild Trout Trust explains why it’s so important for people to have their say: “Beaver reintroduction is a significant decision to be made for a river, its wildlife and the surrounding area. A decision which requires thought and evidence.
The science is clear that the benefits and outcomes from introducing beavers depends heavily on the area they are released in, the health of the habitat, and the management put in place. That is why community consultation is not a box-ticking exercise, it is essential for the success of the project.
Anglers, riparian owners, and local river stewards hold invaluable knowledge about their watercourses, and their voices must be heard. We urge everyone with an interest in the Western Rother to engage with this consultation process and have their say."
Beavers are known as ecosystem engineers. By making changes in their environment such as damming small water courses and coppicing trees, beavers create natural wetlands which support a huge variety of other wildlife.
In the 16th century these industrious creatures were hunted to extinction for their meat, fur and scent glands. The loss of beavers from our countryside in turn led to the loss of naturally boggy and wet areas, with a knock on effect to the wildlife who depend on these habitats for food and shelter. Across the country, partnerships are looking at potential sites to bring beavers back to help landscapes recover and become more resilient to the real challenges of climate change.
Dave Elliott from the National Trust has first hand experience of running a beaver release project, and explains why such a project on the Western Rother requires a partnership approach:
“These remarkable animals get to work quickly, slowing water flows, building wetlands and boosting biodiversity in ways that would take years of costly human intervention to replicate. But we have also learned that successful reintroduction doesn't happen by chance. It requires careful preparation, close working with local landowners, farmers and communities, and a genuine commitment to listening and planning together.
With beavers being considered for release in the Western Rother, we strongly encourage local people to engage with the consultation process. Your knowledge of your river, your land and your community is invaluable - and the more voices that are heard early, the better the outcomes for both wildlife and people."
Working together the WRBG are collecting evidence to demonstrate how the Western Rother catchment could be a potential area for a beaver release. This information can then be submitted to Natural England as part of the formal application for a license.
The group will also act as the main point of contact for community support throughout the potential beaver release project, liaising closely with the Sussex Beaver Advisory group, sharing knowledge and raising awareness about the project.
Fran Southgate, Nature Recovery Manager at Sussex Wildlife Trust, highlights the importance of having a partnership group in place for supporting this project:
"Beavers are a Keystone species, whose absence caused whole ecosystems to collapse. With climate change becoming one of the biggest threats to people and nature, beavers are one of our most effective allies for adapting to it.
Sussex Wildlife Trust has been chairing the Sussex Beaver Advisory Group since 2018, where over 20 major stakeholders have been collectively making decisions about beavers in Sussex based on evidence and Government guidance. With the government decision to accept applications for licences to release free living beavers now in place, this is a once in a lifetime opportunity to restore a native animal to its natural landscapes – and to do it well.
In order to do this we must ensure that people are supported to live with beavers, that animal welfare is upheld, and that the return of beavers is monitored and managed. We are very pleased to be part of the WRBG to help ensure that this is followed through within the Western Rother area."
The WRBG’s Open Day takes place on Wednesday 17th June, at the South Downs Centre in Midhurst - everyone is welcome to drop in anytime between 10am and 4pm.
There is also a special film night that evening running from 7pm until 9pm, where people will have the chance to watch Balancing the Scales, and take part in a Q&A session with Rob Needham from the Beaver Trust and David Oakley from the Wild Trout Trust. Representatives of the WRBG will also be present during the evening.
