Ennerdale’s beaver journey
Since 2019, we have aspired to release beavers into Ennerdale Valley in Cumbria.
Early plans for a partial beaver enclosure were paused in October 2023 because there were concerns about the proposed metal grill across the lower River Liza and its potential to deter salmon and trout from passing to their spawning grounds upstream.
A beaver release directly into the wild was not an available option at that time.
New opportunities for free-living beavers in Ennerdale and the River Ehen catchment
The government announced a two-step licensing process to allow beavers to be released into the wild on 28 February 2025.
Step 1: Expression of interest
The expression of interest requires a high-level statement against each of the nine wild release criteria (available at Beavers: criteria for wild release - GOV.UK).
This process avoids applicants, Natural England and other stakeholders investing time on full applications that are unlikely to secure a licence in the first round of applications.
Step 2: Licence application
Only those projects deemed most viable will be invited to make a full application. This will help manage beaver reintroductions at a measured pace.
What has happened so far?
On 1 May 2025 Forestry England submitted an expression of interest for a wild beaver release into Ennerdale with support from other Wild Ennerdale partnership organisations (National Trust, United Utilities and Natural England).
Our expression of interest is available to view HERE.
What have we heard?
We were one of 39 expressions of interest submitted to Natural England. Nine projects, all in the south-west or south-east of England, were invited to submit a full application. Seven projects were advised that their proposals were unlikely to meet the wild release criteria and were given feedback such as forming or joining larger-scale, catchment-wide partnerships. The remaining 23 expressions of interest were asked to provide more information. Our proposal remains in the latter category, potentially viable, but requiring more work before we may be invited to prepare a full application.
We were asked to submit additional information on three areas:
- Releasing enough beavers for a genetically diverse population.
- Including members from across the catchment in our steering group.
- Our long-term plans for beaver management.
What will happen next?
We plan to submit our additional information before the end of 2025. If we are invited to prepare a full application, we will engage with those likely to be affected by the proposals from this point.
What can I do?
Share your thoughts
Each catchment and each property will experience beavers differently. Help us develop a comprehensive, site-specific management plan that is practical and relevant to the River Ehen catchment.
- Do you own, live on, work on, or spend your free time on land in the River Ehen catchment with a river, stream or ditch that might be affected by beavers?
- Are there areas on your property where you would welcome co-existence with beavers?
- Do you have infrastructure, vegetation, land use or activities that could be impacted by beavers?
If we are invited to apply for a licence, the points you raise will inform the next steps in our engagement.
Please include your contact details so we can get back in touch.
Contact us
Please contact Hayley Dauben, Species Reintroduction Project Officer at hayley.dauben@forestryengland.uk or 07425 732513.