Beavers are referred to as ‘ecosystem engineers’, they are a key step towards a Wilder Derbyshire and beyond!  By introducing beavers, they will help improve water flow and levels whilst creating a range of habitats, from small and large ponds, canals, vegetated margins and many more for a range of species at Willington.

Not only are their reintroductions playing a key part in expanding ecosystems and a possible solution to the eco-crisis, but it’s been recently discovered that they are having a positive psychological benefit to the populations increasing eco-anxiety and they have also had a positive impact on general wellbeing.

A recent study published in the European Journal of Ecopsychology reported their findings that beaver reintroductions have a positive impact on the populations mental wellbeing. The authors argue that “beavers’ creation of biodiverse natural settings offers the possibility of increased nature connectedness and nature-based psychological restoration for people”. Moreover, “beavers could act as a flagship species and become a totem of hope as eco-anxiety increases.” The study concludes that the psychological benefits of beaver reintroduction “likely exceed that of any other single species’ reintroduction or conservation initiative”, and far outweigh the costs of their management and reintroduction.

We asked Derbyshire Wildlife Trust’s Regional Manager for Trent and Erewash, Kate Lemon, for her stance on this recent study: 

“It was incredibly pleasing to read the recent Psychotherapy academic paper which considers the potential psychological impact of beavers alongside their well-documented ecological impact. I wholeheartedly agree with the authors that the creation of biodiverse natural landscapes offers the possibility of increased nature connectedness and nature-based psychological restoration for people. Given the recent COP26 conference in Glasgow, increasing eco-anxiety and the growing awareness that Britain’s landscape is particularly nature depleted, we need a beacon of hope that nature can mend itself given the chance and that the psychological benefits of beaver reintroduction indeed far outweigh the costs of their management and reintroduction.  Our own beaver reintroduction in Derbyshire has led to many more people engaging with DWT and the nature reserve, keen to see these elusive mammals for themselves but also discovering the joy that a simple walk in a beautiful, nature-rich setting can bring them.”

To learn more about Derbyshire Wildlife Trusts work on the beaver reintroduction project at Willington Wetlands, check out our pages below!