Those Dam Beavers & Their Friends

A turning point for England’s landscapes and biodiversity

This week marks a monumental step forward for England’s natural landscapes: beavers are now (and once again) being recognised as a wild species, with the introduction of a clear pathway for their release and management.

This decision isn’t just about one species though - it represents a shift in how we engage with the land, embracing a more organic, self-sustaining approach to restoration.

At The Bioasis, we see this as a revival of a lost relationship. One where landscapes are shaped through the dynamic interactions of all life.

Beavers, once an integral part of our rivers and wetlands, were driven to extinction in England centuries ago. Now, their return brings the possibility, or should I say guarantee… of a richer, more biodiverse environment, where water purifies in its free flow, habitats regenerate and natural processes take precedence over artificial management.

But beavers aren’t the only species making a quiet return.

Beavers are ecosystem engineers.

Pine martens are back!

Over the past year, pine martens have been successfully reintroduced to Dartmoor in a carefully managed project. These elusive woodland predators were once widespread across England before habitat loss and persecution pushed them to the brink.

Now, with their return, they bring the potential to restore balance in woodland ecosystems, particularly by keeping grey squirrel populations in check. The amazing and beautiful pine marten will perform an ecological role that will benefit the health of our native forests.

Pine martens have been successfully reintroduced into Dartmoor by Devon Wildlife Trust

And then there’s the wild boar

Unlike beavers and pine martens, their presence on Dartmoor wasn’t officially planned, but recent sightings suggest they are here.

Whether through accidental release or deliberate rewilding efforts outside the public eye, wild boar have been slowly reclaiming parts of the UK over the last two decades. They are a keystone species, with restless snouts that unearth hidden layers of the forest floor, shaking up the soil in ways that promote biodiversity, creating micro-habitats for insects and fungi, and even influencing tree regeneration. Their presence is controversial, but it’s also a reminder that nature often finds a way, whether we plan for it or not.

Wild boar have been spotted close to outer perimeter of The Bioasis.

We wholeheartedly support the return of species that once played a vital role in shaping our landscapes. These reintroductions, both planned and spontaneous, reflect a changing relationship with nature; one that moves beyond control and exploitation toward a deeper recognition of the land’s natural intelligence, memory and ability to tell its own story.

To us, the return of beavers, pine martens and even wild boar symbolises a deep reawakening within the collective consciousness of Britain; an understanding that thriving ecosystems depend not just on what we manage, but also what we manage to let be.

Every mission at The Bioasis is a chance to step into nature, to move through the landscape with awareness, and to rediscover our place within it. When we learn to move with stealth, track animal footprints, and use biodiversity monitoring equipment, we remember that it isn’t just us. There is more out there - life beyond our own - and that realisation brings us to life. Just as a beaver doesn’t question its role in shaping rivers or a pine marten moves through the forest without hesitation, we, too, can relearn what it means to belong to a landscape, through intuition and presence.

Written by Elliott Montgomery