Geckoella Beaver Day – Geckoella seek out a more natural world

This September the team at Geckoella visited Rewilding Coombes Head www.rewildingcoombeshead.co.uk in Devon, the former 300 acre farm of Derek Gow who is in the process of rewilding his land.

The highlight of the trip was to see European Beavers, and how nature’s impressive watercourse engineeers have benefited a whole range of other wetland species too, but the team was treated to a whole spectrum of rewilding projects involving the reintroduction of key apex species, as well as a water vole reintroduction program and some very special rescued European Lynx.

The visit was lead by Naturalist and Conservationist Taylor Davies. The team learnt about the complexities of species reintroduction, including how family groups need to prepared for release – a complicated and logistically difficult procedure, and how to resolve occasions when changes due to beavers can lead to challenges for existing land management. It was great for us visitors as we were able to see up close and personal the charismatic beavers being carefully looked after in barns whilst awaiting their release to wetland restoration projects around the country. Habitat created and occupied by the resident beavers was very evident to see when later in the day we were treated to a fascinating wild walk in the valley. It was incredible to see the area transitioning from intensive farmland with high water run off rates, to a more natural, dynamic and rich environment that can soak up water and reduce downstream flooding. Heart warming to see, very beautiful, but vital in our understanding of how working with nature rather than against it can benefit us and the environment we share with nature. Top work RewildingCoombesHead!