Springwatch, the BBC’s prime time nature TV show, will kick off its series this year with a visit to the Scottish Beaver Trial, a trial reintroduction of beavers run by the Scottish Wildlife Trust and the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland which is taking place in the Forestry Commission’s Knapdale Forest, mid-Argyll, Scotland, it was revealed today (10 May 2011) 

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.”   

For more information about the Scottish Beaver Trial, visit www.scottishbeavers.org.uk.  

 

***ENDS***

 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:

Nicola McGovern, PR and Communications Manager, the Scottish Wildlife Trust

Tel: 0131 312 4742 or email: nmcgovern@swt.org.uk

 

Notes to Editors

• The Scottish Beaver Trial is a partnership project between the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland, the Scottish Wildlife Trust and host Forestry Commission Scotland to undertake a time-limited trial reintroduction of the European beavers to Knapdale, Mid-Argyll. It is part of Scotland's Species Action Framework, which sets out a strategic approach to species management in Scotland. The Scottish Government has asked Scottish Natural Heritage to coordinate the independent scientific monitoring of the trial, reporting on whether the conditions of the licence are being fully addressed on the ground.For more information visit www.scottishbeavers.org.uk
• SNH is working with a number of independent organisations to carry out the monitoring work. They are Argyll and Bute Council, Argyll Fisheries Trust, Historic Scotland, British Dragonfly Society, Macaulay Land Use Research Institute, Scottish Environment Protection Agency, Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, University of Oxford Wildlife Conservation Research Unit and University of Stirling. Each organisation is contributing resources towards the monitoring of the trial, along with SNH who is contributing £275,000. For information about the monitoring go to www.snh.gov.uk/scottishbeavertrial. 
• The Scottish Government approved the application of the trial reintroduction in May 2008. This followed a two-month long consultation period with local residents and key stakeholders. The results of this consultation showed that 73% of respondents were in favour of the trial reintroduction.
• Forestry Commission Scotland (FCS) serves as the Scottish Government's forestry directorate.  FCS is the host partner in the project and manages the Trial site at Knapdale. www.forestry.gov.uk/scotland.
• Edinburgh Zoo and Highland Wildlife Park are owned by the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS), a registered charity, number SC004064. RZSS was founded by visionary lawyer Thomas Gillespie. The Society was set up ‘to promote, facilitate and encourage the study of zoology and kindred subjects and to foster and develop amongst the people an interest in and knowledge of animal life’. RZSS has been involved in several successful species reintroduction programmes in the past. These include native species, such as the Canna mouse, as well as global initiatives including reintroducing the Socorro dove back to the Socorro Islands, off the Mexican coast. www.edinburghzoo.org.uk
• The Scottish Wildlife Trust is a registered charity. It is the largest voluntary body working for all the wildlife of Scotland, representing more than 35,000 members who care for wildlife and the environment. The Scottish Wildlife Trust seeks to raise public awareness of threatened habitats and species and manages over 120 wildlife reserves Scotland-wide. www.swt.org.uk
• Scottish Natural Heritageadvises the Scottish Government on conserving, enjoying, understanding and sustainably using our natural heritage. For further information on SNH, please visit www.snh.gov.uk.
• Funding for the Scottish Beaver Trial has been gratefully received from Biffaward. 
• In 1997 Biffa Waste Services agreed to donate landfill tax credits to the Royal Society of Wildlife Trusts (RSWT) to administer under the fund name Biffaward. Grants made from the fund currently amount to £100 million, supporting many worthwhile projects. Biffa Waste Services Limited is one of the largest single suppliers of waste management services in the UK. It collects, treats, recovers and disposes of municipal, commercial and industrial waste nationwide.  It is ultimately owned by a private equity consortium comprising Montagu Private Equity, Global Infrastructure Partners, Uberior Co-Investments Limited and other co-investors www.biffaward.org
• The project has also received financial support from a range of sources including the People’s Trust for Endangered Species, People’s Postcode Lottery, the John Ellerman Foundation and the Albert George & Nancy Caroline Youngman Trust