Beavers dam good way to stop flooding
A FAMILY of beavers has significantly cut the risk of downstream flooding since being introduced to a farm in Cornwall five years ago, a study found.
Chewy and Willow arrived at Woodland Valley Farm near Truro in 2017 and now have two kits.
Researchers found dams and ponds they created mean it now takes water an hour to travel through the site, up from 15 minutes, protecting a flood-prone village nearby.
Floodplains absorb more water, peak flows after heavy rainfall are down by a third and new ponds and wetland have boosted biodiversity.
Dr Alan Puttock, of the University of Exeter, said: “Beavers could play a role in delivering natural flood management.”