LEARN more about the return of beavers to Dorset in a museum lecture.

History was made in February 2021 when the Dorset Wildlife Trust released a pair of Eurasian beavers into an enclosed site in west Dorset as part of a scientific study to assess the impact beavers have on their environment.

This is the first time that beavers have lived in Dorset for more than 400 years.

In a lecture at Dorset Museum in Dorchester on Thursday, September 21, Stephen Oliver will tell the fascinating story of how the beavers have settled into their Dorset home and explain how these unique mammals can play a vital role in river ecology and nature-based solutions to flooding, pollution and species loss.

Stephen manages the Dorset Beaver Project on behalf of Dorset Wildlife Trust and has lived in Dorset for most of his life, having grown up in the county.

He has worked for a number of conservation organisations during his career and has been with Dorset Wildlife Trust for 16 years.

With a lifelong passion for wildlife and nature conservation, Stephen is part of the team restoring beavers to a local landscape, whilst raising awareness and understanding about what it means to have these magnificent creatures return.

As part of the museum's partnership with Dorset Wildlife Trust during the Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition, which runs until October 29 at the museum, 20 per cent of ticket sale proceeds for this lecture will go towards the Dorset Wildlife Trust beaver project.

The lecture begins at 7pm and places can be booked at www.dorsetmuseum.org/event/the-return-of-beavers-to-dorset/