‘You can’t control what beavers do or how they do it!’ Could rewilding help England fight droughts?

To their admirers, beavers and their dams can help humans hang on to water when it ’s scarce, and prevent flooding when it’s not. Others worry that they spell disaster for farmers. We weigh up the evidence from one lush valley in DevonIn the midst of the UK ’s worst drought in living memory, a host of unfamiliar experiences assault our senses in a Devon valley. Before us is a field of lush green grass. To one side is a bush of blackberries swollen huge by perfect growing conditions. Squelch, squelch go our feet through the grass. There’s sticky bla ck mud! Hang on, I’ve got wet feet.Despite a few drops of rain earlier in the week, the rolling hills of the West Country are parched yellow. And yet this small valley, where a tributary leads to the River Otter, is deep green.Continue reading...

Source: Guardian Unlimited Science - August 24, 2022 Category: Science Authors: Patrick Barkham Tags: Wildlife Conservation Rivers Animals Devon Drought Flooding Source Type: news