MP Mike Amesbury says he’d back further research to find out whether bringing back beavers could be part of the solution to stop flooding in places like Northwich.
The Weaver Vale MP was recently shown how a pair of beavers are transforming the landscape alongside Hatchmere Lake near Frodsham.
He believes beavers could have a role to play as part of a multi-pronged approach to mitigating the risk of serious floods, like those experienced in Northwich in 2019 and 2021.
Mr Amesbury said: “We’ve lost 90% of wetland habitats across the country – but at Hatchmere just two beavers have increased the amount of wetland after building an impressive 50-metre-wide dam, with predicted improvements for bio-diversity and improved water quality.
“What’s given me food for thought is the dam slows water flow.
“If released at strategic locations upstream, might beaver activity help keep river levels around Northwich low enough during heavy rainfall that surface water can escape, reducing the risk of flooding in the town centre and beyond?
“More research is needed because beavers are wild animals that are not controllable. What we don’t want are unforeseen effects that could cause other problems.
“But it’s something I would like to explore further with Cheshire West and Chester Council as the lead local flood authority.”
It’s 400 years since beavers were last seen in Cheshire as they were hunted to extinction and it is currently illegal to release them in England except in licensed enclosures – although from October this year they will be given legal protection in the wild.
As part of a five-year pilot, Cheshire Wildlife Trust has been granted a licence to release a male and female from Scotland – named Rowan and Willow – into a 10-hectare enclosure.
Since Mike Amesbury’s visit, there’s been an addition to the family – with the birth of a baby beaver on site.
The trust told Mr Amesbury beavers had helped with flood mitigation elsewhere.
He said: “They gave an example of a village in Germany where flood defences costing £1m were being considered until a beaver moved in upstream and solved the problem free-of-charge!
“Closer to home, in Devon, I read that beavers have constructed six dams upstream of the flood-prone village of East Budleigh.
“The dams have slowed the flow of floodwater through the village, reducing peak flows during flood events.”
Martin Varley, director of nature recovery at Cheshire Wildlife Trust, said: “Beavers offer many benefits to us; water quality, flood resilience and biodiversity, while rebuilding our wetlands that have been sadly lost over time.
“It was great to show Mike around and let him see what they can do.”
