Beaver with kit (Photo: Steve Gardner SWT)
With footage set to air live from the beaver trial site from Monday 30 May 2011, members of the Springwatch team are already stationed in Knapdale, working with Scottish Beaver Trial staff with the aim of bringing the best footage of wild beavers in Scotland ever seen to UK television screens.
The Scottish Beaver Trial began almost two years ago on 29 May 2009 when three beaver families were released into the wild. In less than two weeks time, Gordon Buchanan, the celebrated Scottish wildlife photographer and TV presenter, is set to arrive in Knapdale, and the team will be pulling out all the stops to capture the natural behaviours of the beavers on camera.
Simon Jones, the Scottish Beaver Trial Project Manager, said: “We can’t wait to show Springwatch viewers across Britain the wild, Knapdale beavers, the beautiful local environment and the story of the return from extinction in the UK of this fascinating, keystone species. Our trial is the first formal reintroduction of a native mammal back in to the UK, and the outcome of this trial could decide the future of beavers in Scotland.
“Now close to celebrating its second anniversary, the Trial and its beavers are doing well. We have four beaver families here and we hope to see new kits emerging from the lodges in June or July. Signs of beavers and the effects they can have on their local environment can be seen readily by visiting the area.”
You can visit some parts of the Knapdale site and details of a walk through the site at Barnluasgan Oakwood on Walkhighlands. For further details of the Scottish Beaver Trail visit the website.