Beavers helping to reduce risk of flooding

'PIONEERING SOLUTIONS TO CLIMATE CHANGE'

- KATIE TIMMS

POOLE Farm’s pair of Eurasian beavers are successfully reducing the risk of flooding in Plymouth.

A new study undertaken by scientists from the University of Exeter has looked into the effects of the beavers, and of other nature-focused methods employed up stream.

They have discovered that during peak flows, the result of the creatures’ effective damming, coupled with manmade leaky dams built by staff and volunteers, the flow of water in the Bircham Valley is reduced by 23%. It is thought the research is the first of its kind to study the effects of the animals in an urban environment.