The Reality of Farming Alongside Beavers - with Clinton Devon Estates

In this episode, we are joined by two key voices in the 'beavers and farming' world. 

Keen to better understand what it’s really like to have wild beavers living on your land, we’re joined by the Head of Wildlife and Conservation, Sam Bridgewater, and Head of Agriculture, Sam Briant-Evans, at Clinton Devon Estates - a major landowner stewarding 25,000 acres across East Devon's River Otter Catchment.

The estate was a core partner in the River Otter Beaver Trial, working with Devon Wildlife Trust, the University of Exeter and Derek Gow Consultancy on the game-changing five-year study. The trial, from 2015-2020, determined that beavers could provide benefits to both nature and people if allowed to live wild in the English countryside.

Three years on, and the reality of living with beavers is a daily task. The beavers themselves can need careful management, and often a big and important consideration is working with local communities and other stakeholders to ensure that everyone is aware and informed of the various impacts.

Both Sams' offer fascinating and honest insights into the highs and lows of managing beavers, and how a well-managed, supported future alongside them is something we must expect and hope for.

Also coming up: another riveting #FactOff challenge and Eva sees how beavery Sophie really is in the QUIZ.

Need we say more? Dive on in! 

Would you like to discuss anything from this episode with our expert team? We want to hear from you: Beaver Trust. 

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Hosted by Sophie Pavelle and Eva Bishop. 

Produced and edited by Emma Brisdion.