In April 2026, seven beavers were released into a fenced, private enclosure on the River Ouse in Sussex. This is the first time that native Beavers have been present in this catchment for hundreds of years, since being hunted to extinction.
In order to jointly manage the return of beavers and a their successful coexistence with people, the Ouse Beaver Working Group (OBWG) was established in October 2026. The OBWG is a collective of organisations, conservation charities, regulators and stakeholders and is currently hosted by the Wilder Ouse project.
The OBWG will collaborate on creating sustainable future populations of free-living Beavers. They will help to ensure that there is support and guidance for communities on the governance, funding, due diligence, monitoring, stakeholder engagement and training needed for Beaver licences. They will act as a main point of contact in the Ouse, and will work with the Sussex Beaver Advisory Group, to increase knowledge and raise awareness about Beavers.
The OBWG includes representation from the Environment Agency, Forestry England, National Trust, Natural England, NFU, RSPB, CLA, South Downs National Park Authority, People’s Park for Nature, Love our Ouse, High Weald National Landscape, Woodland Trust, Southern Water, Sussex Wildlife Trust, Weald to Waves Initiative, Ouse & Adur Rivers Trust, Wild Trout Trust, Green Britain Foundation and many others.
