“The chance to make history” is the way that TV presenter
and naturalist Chris Packham is describing a campaign by the Devon Wildlife
Trust.
The wildlife charity urgently needs to raise a minimum of
£100,000 from a crowdfunding campaign to have a chance of securing the
future of England’s only wild population of beavers. The beavers have made their home on
the River Otter in East Devon. After being discovered in 2013 the beavers were
originally set to be removed by government officials. However, a partnership led by Devon
Wildlife Trust and involving local people and local landowner Clinton Devon
Estates reversed this decision – but only for a 5 year trial period on a licence
granted by Natural England.
This opened the way for Devon Wildlife Trust to launch the
River Otter Beaver Trial in 2015, a five-year project which is monitoring the impact
of the animals on the local landscapes, communities and wildlife. The Trial
involves a lot of wide ranging activities, including:
- monitoring the
beavers’ welfare and introducing new animals to the river to
- keep their small community genetically diverse;
- working with
local landowners and others to monitor and manage any impacts
- the beavers are having on the local landscape;
- and helping
schools and other local communities take part in the exciting
- story unfolding on their doorstep.
- All project outcomes have to be fully supported by
independent evidence.
The Trial is scheduled to finish in 2020 when the government
will make a decision on the beavers’ future. However, Devon Wildlife Trust has to
finance the whole of the project’s costs, which are estimated to be nearly £700,000.
The charity receives no state funding for the project and now urgently needs to
finance its beaver work.
Thanks to Devon Wildlife Trust’s supporters, to date the
charity has raised nearly half of this sum, but it still has a way to go, so the
charity has now launched a crowdfunding appeal. Crowdfunding allows the public to back
your idea with pledges of money. Backers are then ‘thanked’ with rewards that
reflect the money contributed.
Devon Wildlife Trust’s Mike Elsey has put the beaver
crowdfunding appeal together.
He says:
“Rather than a simple plea for donations, we thought we’d do
something different for Devon’s wild beavers. We’re asking people to pledge their
support and in return we’re offering a range of very special unique beaver-themed
rewards.”
These rewards include some highly unusual items. Among them
is the chance to own a ‘beaver chip’ – a nibbled chip of wood actually gnawed by a
Devon beaver. Other rewards range from a limited edition signed beaver cushion,
designed by renowned artist Hugh Dunford Wood, a bespoke tour of the beavers’
river home in the company of an expert guide, a unique River Otter beaver soft toy,
and even a personal appearance by ‘Nora’ the Devon Wildlife Trust’s beaver
mascot.
Mike Elsey says:
“The rewards we’re offering are only available to people
supporting Devon’s wild beavers. Pledges start at as little as £5, with the beaver
chips being offered for those pledging £75.”
“Devon’s wild beavers have attracted so much interest, not
just in Devon but across the UK and beyond. This is people’s chance to turn this
interest into support. This is their opportunity to become part of this unique wildlife
story and ensure that these very special animals remain in the wild at least until
2020.”
There are now thought to be around 20 beavers living on the
River Otter. They are the first wild beavers in England for 400 years after the
last populations were hunted to extinction. This summer beavers living near the
East Devon village of Otterton drew hundreds of visitors all hoping to see a
family which had had five kits (baby beavers).
Chris Packham has decided to back the crowdfunding
appeal. The TV presenter and naturalist is fronting a video for Devon Wildlife Trust. In
it Chris says: “We have just four years in which to work with local people
to prove to the government that beavers are good for the environment and can
live in harmony with local people. If we don’t then the beavers will be removed.
“I have to tell you this is a once in a lifetime opportunity
to help a magnificent and long lost mammal to thrive again.”
Chris Packham signs off with a direct appeal to the public:
“Please donate today to give Devon’s beavers a chance and to
play a role in one of the most exciting conservation projects of the
twentieth-first century. You never know it might pave the way for other native species to
return to the UK.”
There you can watch Chris Packham’s video appeal and find out about the range of
unique beaver rewards being offered to people who pledge support.
An adult beaver swimming in
the River Otter.
Photo copyright Mike Symes, Devon Wildlife Trust. (All rights reserved)
River Otter beaver mother with her kits near Otterton, East
Devon. Photo copyright Mike Symes/Devon Wildlife Trust (All rights Reserved)
