The Environment Minister Paul Wheelhouse MSP has joined Scottish Beaver Trial staff on site in Knapdale, mid-Argyll as part of a trip to key environmental projects on the west coast of Scotland.

Mr. Wheelhouse was shown round the site by project manager Simon Jones, Scottish Wildlife Trust Chairman Allan Bantick and Chief Executive Simon Milne. He was lucky enough to see a beaver in the wild for the first time. Beavers are shy creatures and most active at night so we are delighted that the Minister managed to spot one on his visit. He also learned about the positive effect beavers have on their environment as 'ecosystem engineers' and the difference that the Scottish Beaver Trial is having on the community and economy of mid-Argyll.

During the Minister's visit to the west coast, he also found out about sperm whale protection off Oban and a sea eagle reintroduction project on the Isle of Mull.

The Scottish Beaver Trial is now entering its final phase. The first beavers were released in 2009 and the Trial is set to end in summer 2014. The Scottish Government will make a final decision on the future fate of the beavers in Argyll in 2015.

The Scottish Beaver Trial is a partnership project between the Scottish Wildlife Trust, the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland and host partners, Forestry Commission Scotland. The Scottish Wildlife Trust and The Royal Zoological Society of Scotland are registered charities in Scotland.

For more information on the project, visit the Scottish Beaver Trial website.