Beavers around Batheaston

Beaver in the Avon (photo by Aleks Domanski)

Beavers are living in the Avon again after being hunted to extinction hundreds of years ago. Grow Batheaston organised a series of events this Summer to welcome them back and celebrate the life in our river.

During May, Aleks Domanski, an award winning wildlife film-maker, worked alongside willow artist Julie Starks and insect collage artist Marian Hill at Batheaston Primary School. Pupils learnt about the lives of beavers and the insects they share the river with.

The children’s art work was displayed in the Batheaston New Village Hall in June.

On Friday June 7th, more than 120 people came to the Batheaston New Village Hall for an evening of talks, film and artworks.  The expert presenters provided a variety of perspectives on beavers, the many benefits they bring to communities and how they increase biodiversity. There were lots of video clips showing beaver behaviour to charm the audience. It was a packed evening. The speakers were Bevis Watts, author of ‘River Journey – Searching for Wild Beavers and Finding Freedom’, Emma Fennell Hodson of the Avon Wildlife Trust, Emily Bowen of the Beaver Trust, Dr Eva Perrin of Surfers against Sewage and Aleks Domanski, wildlife film-maker.

Here’s a short reel about the evening, put together by Stephanie Sharkey.

On June 8th, a beautifully sunny day, there were two free drop in workshops at the riverside. Both featured willow, an amazing plant and one of the beavers’ favourite foods. Julie Starks ran a workshop creating insects from willow and Susi Bancroft and Alison Harper offered a wind-catcher workshop using willow and fabrics.