A PROJECT hoping to release beavers into the wild along the River Dyfi is planning on holding workshops in the new year, as they await a license to go ahead with the release.

The Welsh Beaver Project, which is hoping to restore nature on the River Dyfi through the managed reintroduction of beavers, is managed by the North Wales Wildlife Trust on behalf of all five Welsh Wildlife Trusts.

As part of the project, in March this year, Montgomeryshire Wildlife Trust were granted a licence to release a family of Eurasian beavers into an enclosure at Cors Dyfi Nature Reserve.

Radnorshire Wildlife Trust are now planning to apply for a licence from Natural Resources Wales (NRW) to release wild beavers on the River Dyfi.

The trust are unsure of when the beavers will be released as this depends on whether they are granted the licence by NRW.

A series of workshops are planned for the new year so that local communities can find out more about the planned release.

Alicia Leow-Dyke, Welsh Beaver project officer for the Radnorshire Wildlife Trust, said: “The Dyfi Catchment Natural Restoration Project aims to help restore nature and improve water management within the Dyfi catchment using sustainable solutions, including beavers.

“Beavers were once widespread across the Welsh countryside, but due to hunting by man for their fur, meat and scent glands, they became extinct around the Middle-Ages.

“The Wildlife Trusts are working to bring beavers back to Wales because of the important role they can play in enriching biodiversity and helping to restore and manage rivers and wetlands. The Dyfi catchment has been proposed as the first pilot release site in Wales.

“Beavers are known as a ‘keystone species’ because their activities benefit a wide range of other animals and plants that live in rivers and wetlands. As beaver activity can also slow down water-flow through river catchments they can also help to alleviate downstream flooding, stabilise water tables, reduce erosion and improve water quality. Tourism benefits can also help support local economies.

“The project also aims to plant trees near to watercourses throughout the area to improve wildlife corridors, stabilise riverbanks and slow the flow of water through the landscape, so is keen to hear from landholders wishing to get involved.”

An initial series of online workshops will be held in the new year to share the project proposals and gather feedback. If you live in the River Dyfi catchment come along and have your say.

The workshops will take place online from 10am to 12pm on 20 January and 8 February, and from 7pm to 9pm on 26 January and 14 February.

Details for registering on the workshops can be found at www.northwaleswildlifetrust.org.uk/events and www.montwt.co.uk/events.