A WILD beaver project with Devon Wildlife Trust is in the running for a prestigious BBC Countryfile award.

The Trust has been jointly nominated with a project in Scotland in the ‘Wildlife Success of the Year’ category of the BBC Countryfile Magazine Awards. Public voting for the winner is now open.

The nomination is in recognition of DWT’s work with beavers living on the River Otter in East Devon. The beavers are thought to be the first wild population in England for more than 400 years.

Steve Hussey, of DWT, said: ‘We’re delighted to hear the good news of the nomination. Now public voting has opened we’re urging all beaver supporters to get their votes in either on-line or via a copy of BBC Countryfile magazine. If we can win it will show public support for these important and fascinating animals.’

A breeding population of beavers was first discovered on the River Otter in 2014. No one knows how the beavers came to be living wild there. In 2015 Devon Wildlife Trust was granted a five-year licence from Natural England, which allowed the beavers to remain after they were initially threatened with removal.

The licence also allowed the charity to establish a project, which will monitor the beavers until 2020 when a decision about their long-term future is to be made by the Government.

Steve added: ‘We’re very proud to be leading the River Otter beaver trial. Beavers are remarkable animals, which can add to the richness of our countryside’s wildlife and play a part in improving water quality and even help guard against the worst effects of flooding.

‘Beavers went extinct in the UK centuries ago, but now they’re back in Devon they’ve certainly become celebrities, attracting many hundreds of people hoping to see them.’

Shortlisting of the awards was made by a panel of top judges, including Bill Bryson, John Craven and Anita Rani.

Other nominated projects in the ‘Wildlife Success of the Year’ category include conservation work with dormice, cirl buntings, bumblebees and bitterns.

‘All the projects nominated would be worthy winners,’ said Steve. ‘But there is something about beavers, the fact they’ve been lost for so long and now are back which we feel gives them the edge.

‘Being involved in the project, seeing the animals swimming in a Devon river has been such a thrill – it has meant being a part of an amazing chapter in our country’s natural history. Surely that must be worth peoples’ votes.’

Vote for the beavers online at www.countryfile.com/awards