The Lodge Cast

For this episode of The Lodge Cast, we’re heading to the River Avon with Bevis Watts and Jen Robertson 🦫 From early, low-profile sightings during lockdown to a nationally recognised population, Bevis and Jen have been closely involved in documenting the return of wild beavers to one of England’s busier river catchments. In this episode, they explore key themes emerging from the Avon population: 🦫 The transition from off the books to national recognition 🦫 Approaches to coexistence, including landowner engagement and mitigation 🦫 The role of citizen science and community perspectives 🦫 Ecological impacts in large river systems where dam-building is limited Want to discuss anything from this episode or the series with our expert team? We want to hear from you: @BeaverTrust. Want more beaver? Please subscribe and leave us a review so we can bring the world of beavers to more ears. The Lodge Cast is a mixture of fact and opinion. It was hosted by Emily Bowen and Alana Skilbeck, produced and edited by Emma Brisdion and mixed by Mark Skinner for Beaver Trust.

We’re kicking off Series 8 of The Lodge Cast with Tom Bowser, author of two brilliant books and owner of Argaty Red Kites. The first private landowner in Scottish history to legally release beavers into the wild, Tom shares how life on the farm has transformed since the animals were released in 2021. He also steps into the judge's seat for our first 'fact-off' of the series, but does our new co-host, Alana, manage to secure a win? In this episode, we explore: 🌱 The "oasis in the desert": How beavers seem to have provided an answer for every climate extreme thrown at the farm, from record-breaking heatwaves to relentless wet winters. 🌱 Reversing shifting baselines syndrome and normalising reintroduced species and wildness for the next generation 🌱 How beaver-engineered "lag time" has saved the farm thousands of pounds in flood repairs by protecting vital tracks and infrastructure. We also discuss the pioneering riparian tree-planting trial taking place on the farm, if tree planting can take place in the presence of this returned native herbivore, and how many of the 56,000 trees planted beavers have claimed. Want to discuss anything from this episode or the series with our expert team? We want to hear from you: @BeaverTrust. Want more beaver? Please subscribe and leave us a review so we can bring the world of beavers to more ears. The Lodge Cast is a mixture of fact and opinion. It was hosted by Emily Bowen and Alana Skilbeck, produced and edited by Emma Brisdion and mixed by Mark Skinner for Beaver Trust.

We’re joined by Professor Nigel Willby and Patrick Cook, an ecologist and PhD student, from the University of Stirling, to explore the species group at the base of any food chain: plants 🌱 Nigel and Patrick help us unpack: 🌿 What long-term research from Bamff reveals about how beaver activity boosts plant diversity, including a 46% increase in species richness and dramatic rises in habitat “messiness”. 🌿 How beavers create dynamic, ever-changing landscapes through felling, browsing, digging and even dredging hidden seed banks. 🌿 The pollinator plants that thrive in beaver wetlands, from water mint to creeping thistle. 🌿 How the risk of beaver activity compares to human influence on the spread of invasive and non-native plant species. We also look at the willow–beaver “partnership”, the curious items tucked into beaver dams and Patrick’s research, which found nutrient-rich, decaying plant materials in beaver canals create a 119% increase in hoverflies. Want to discuss anything from this episode or the series with our expert team? We want to hear from you: @BeaverTrust. Want more beaver? Please subscribe and leave us a review so we can bring the world of beavers to more ears. The Lodge Cast is a mixture of fact and opinion. It was hosted by Eva Bishop and Emily Bowen, produced and edited by Emma Brisdion and mixed by Mark Skinner for Beaver Trust.

We’re kicking off Series 8 by championing the underbug with Dr Alan Law, lecturer in nature-based solutions at the University of Stirling 🪲 An expert in aquatic invertebrates and freshwater ecology in beaver habitats, Alan helps us explore the influence beavers have on these small yet mighty creatures and brings his own brilliant beaver fact to the fact-off. The question is, does it take the win? In this episode, we explore: 🪲 Why these often overlooked creatures underpin a complex web of life. 🪲 The insect “football team”: how functional groups like shredders and collectors are like having distinct yet important players in a cohesive team. 🪲 How beaver-dug canals create distinct hotspots for predatory aquatic invertebrates. Want to discuss anything from this episode or the series with our expert team? We want to hear from you: @BeaverTrust. Want more beaver? Please subscribe and leave us a review so we can bring the world of beavers to more ears. The Lodge Cast is a mixture of fact and opinion. It was hosted by Eva Bishop and Emily Bowen, produced and edited by Emma Brisdion and mixed by Mark Skinner for Beaver Trust.

Join us for a captivating conversation with Derek Gow, world-renowned conservationist, author and owner of Rewilding Coombeshead, a pioneering species recovery centre in North Devon. A key figure in UK rewilding, Derek shares his vast knowledge and experience on the historical, cultural and ecological significance of beavers. In this episode, we delve into: A history of beavers in Britain: Uncover fascinating details about their presence from prehistoric times, their exploitation for various purposes and their eventual decline. The cultural significance of beavers: Explore their role in Saxon times, their representation in place names and the diverse values placed upon them throughout history, from medicinal uses of castorium to the fur trade. The future of beavers in Britain: Hear Derek's vision for a fully restored beaver population, the challenges and societal views surrounding their return and the transformative impact they could have on our landscapes. Also coming up: Find out Derek's verdict as he judges this week's beaver fact off. Want to discuss anything from this episode or the series with our expert team? We want to hear from you: @BeaverTrust. Want more beaver? Please subscribe and leave us a review so we can bring the world of beavers to more ears. The Lodge Cast is a mixture of fact and opinion. It was hosted by Eva Bishop and Emily Bowen, produced and edited by Emma Brisdion and mixed by Mark Skinner for Beaver Trust.

Join us for a fascinating conversation with Dr Sean McCormack, vet, Beaver Trust ambassador, co-founder of Ealing Beaver Project and founder of Ealing Wildlife Group, as we explore beaver reintroductions in the heart of London. Sean sits at the intersection between community and wildlife reintroduction, and has done a huge amount for raising awareness about beavers and connecting people with their wetlands. In this episode, we will be finding out about: The Ealing Beaver project: Hear about the inspirations, challenges and successes of bringing beavers back to an urban environment. Community engagement: Learn about the importance of community buy-in, diverse perspectives and addressing misconceptions in rewilding projects. Lessons from beavers: Discover how beavers can teach us about self-willed landscapes, adaptive management and the benefits of stepping back and observing. Also coming up: Find out who wins the fact off, judged by Sean! Want to discuss anything from this episode or the series with our expert team? We want to hear from you: @BeaverTrust. Want more beaver? Please subscribe and leave us a review so we can bring the world of beavers to more ears. The Lodge Cast is a mixture of fact and opinion. It was hosted by Eva Bishop and Emily Bowen, produced and edited by Emma Brisdion and mixed by Mark Skinner for Beaver Trust.

This week we're joined by Professor Richard Brazier - a leading academic in Earth Surface Processes at the University of Exeter and an authority on how beavers interact with a changing landscape. Richard co-directs the University’s Centre for Resilience in Environment Water and Waste (CREWW), which pioneers research projects that find out how we can better protect the environment and live alongside it. Most notably, Richard was also a key figure in the research that led to the success of the River Otter Beaver Trial in 2020! Also coming up: the #FactOff challenge and Eva might be leaving Sophie in tears 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. Want more beaver? Please subscribe and leave us a lovely little review, so we can bring the joy of beavers to more ears! This episode is a mixture of fact and opinion. It was hosted by Eva Bishop and Sophie Pavelle, produced and edited by Emma Brisdion, and mixed by Mark Skinner, for Beaver Trust.

Greetings fair listeners! And welcome back to a brand new, shiny series of Beaver Trust's The Lodge Cast! In our sixth series join us on an international journey of discovery, where, with the help of leading experts we navigate the global crisis of climate change, how it is playing out locally here in Britain and where beavers fit into the conversation. It’s a highly complex subject, so in this series we hope to illuminate why that is. To start us off, we welcome none other than Bob Ward - Policy and Communications Director of the Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment at the London School of Economics. As the Deputy Chair of the London Climate Change Partnership, and he’s spoken out on beavers being brought back to Britain, saying that there is a clear need for them to help manage the impacts of climate change, such as flooding, drought and wildfire. Also coming up: the return of the iconic #FactOff challenge and Eva puts Sophie's climate change knowledge to the test 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. Want more beaver? Please subscribe and leave us a lovely little review, so we can bring the joy of beavers to more ears! This episode is a mixture of fact and opinion. It was hosted by Eva Bishop and Sophie Pavelle, produced and edited by Emma Brisdion, and mixed by Mark Skinner, for Beaver Trust.

In this episode, we are joined by two key voices in the beaver management world. To help us better understand the Scottish lived experience with beavers, and to unpack the opportunities presented by the landmark Scottish Beaver Strategy, we speak to Dr Jenny Bryce a Wildlife Ecologist for NatureScot. We then pull on our boots, and hit the ground running in a conversation with Dr Roisin Campbell-Palmer - Beaver Trust’s Head of Restoration and the Lodge Cast’s debut returning guest! Roisin offers a reality check on the management of beavers on the field, and reminds us of the hierarchy of mitigation techniques. No situation is the same - it’s catchment dependent - and coexistence often calls for a complex blend of the human and the ecological. Both women deliver a fascinating conversation into where Britain is at with beaver reintroduction, and what lessons one nation can learn from another - and how a well-managed, supported future alongside beavers is something we must expect and hope for. Also coming up: the #FactOff challenge gets hot and Eva tests Sophie to the limits 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. Want more beaver? Please subscribe and leave us a lovely little review, so we can bring the joy of beavers to more ears! Hosted by Sophie Pavelle and Eva Bishop. Produced and edited by Emma Brisdion

Greetings fair listeners! And welcome back to a brand new, shiny series of Beaver Trust's The Lodge Cast! In our fifth series, join us on an international journey of discovery, where, with the help of leading experts we navigate the complexities of beaver mitigation and management - among the most topical discussions surrounding beaver restoration in Britain today. To kick-off Series 5 with a bang, we are joined by Mike Callahan. Based on the east coast of the United States, Mike’s career and experience is as varied as a thriving beaver wetland. A background in human medicine equipped him with the insight and bedside manner to tackle healing of a greener kind. Fast-forward several years and he is the founder of an organisation called ‘Beaver Solutions’, which specialises in effective beaver management and resolving human-beaver conflicts. He also founded the non-profit The Beaver Institute - of which he is now President. Beavers are a native, keystone species. So what are we mitigating for? Mike’s organisations have created flow devices, learning resources, and delivered training to help professionals or communities interested in dealing with beavers when they present problems, across North America and Europe. Safe to say, speaking with Mike was a joy, and from it we have many pertinent lessons to consider when it comes to human/beaver coexistence. Also coming up: the return of the iconic #FactOff challenge and Sophie puts Eva's crime scene knowledge to the test 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. Want more beaver? Please subscribe and leave us a lovely little review, so we can bring the joy of beavers to more ears! Hosted by Sophie Pavelle and Eva Bishop. Produced and edited by Emma Brisdion.

Well, listeners, that's nearly it for Series 4! We have one treat left for you to round-off our debut foray into the essential topic of 'beavers and farming.' We are joined by Lee Schofield, acclaimed author of Wild Fell and Senior Site Manager atRSPB Haweswater in Cumbria. Lee is a master at managing vast areas of intensively worked land in a way which favours both people and nature, finding it a test of patience, economics and bravery to embrace change. Wild Fell explores the fragility of the British countryside and discusses the many impacts that humans and farming, particularly in Cumbria, have had on nature and wildlife, and reflects on the things that are being done, and could potentially, be done, to create a landscape that works for everyone. With Lee we reflect on the lessons learnt from the previous three discussions in Series 4, and look ahead to the all-important: 'what's next?' in Britain's journey with beavers, and regenerative agriculture. Also coming up: the final #FactOff of the series and a special visit from marvellous Producer Emma, who will give the final scores of the series! 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. Want more beaver? Please subscribe and leave us a lovely little review, so we can bring the joy of beavers to more ears! Hosted by Sophie Pavelle and Eva Bishop. Produced and edited by Emma Brisdion.

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. Want more beaver? Please subscribe and leave us a lovely little review, so we can bring the joy of beavers to more ears! Hosted by Sophie Pavelle and Eva Bishop. Produced and edited by Emma Brisdion.