Ep. 024: Keystone Species - Beavers

Why do beavers create dams? How do they enhance the ecosystem around them? What is getting in the way of their return? As a Project Officer with the Welsh Beaver Project, Alicia Leow-Dyke is the perfect guest to introduce us to the beaver and their importance within the British Landscape. 

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Your Hosts:

• Tom Constable: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tom-constable/
• Chloe Constable: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chloe-constable-24155821b/

If you’re interested in finding out more about the HighGround Charity (who Tom supported in his Offa’s Dyke adventure) please go to the following link: https://highground-uk.org

Grange Project Contact & Social Media:

• Email: hello@grangeproject.co.uk
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/grange.project/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/grangeproject
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@GrangeProject
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tom-constable/

Our Guest:

Alicia Leow-Dyke has been the Wildlife Trusts Wales (WTW) Welsh Beaver Project Officer since 2016.  With over 10 years of experience working with beavers, Alicia is the perfect guest to introduce us to the beaver and the feasibility of re-introducing them to Wales.

Find out more at:

• https://www.northwaleswildlifetrust.org.uk/welshbeaverproject
• https://www.facebook.com/beaverafanc

Listen out for:

[00:00:00] Tom and Chloe share the latest news from the Grange Project, including the outcome of Tom’s crazy challenge, the next community day and an update on planning!

[00:06:57] We introduce our guest, Alicia Leow-Dyke, and she gives us a beginner’s guide to beavers: what they look like, where they live and how they like to spend their time.

[00:16:10] We then go on to talk about what’s just so special about beavers and the influence they have on the system around them as ‘ecosystem engineers’.

[00:19:39] Alicia shares her knowledge about why beavers were lost from Britain.

[00:22:07] We hear about the Welsh Beaver Project, why it was established, what’s been achieved and where beavers are in Wales. 

[00:25:06] Alicia shares some of the concerns that people hold about the reintroduction of Wales and where beavers are currently across the country.

[00:35:12] We discuss the future of beavers in Wales and where you can find out more about the Project.

[00:38:15] Chloe and Tom reflect on the interview and what resonated most for them.