The Lodge Cast

Beavers, rewilding and radical conservation with Derek Gow

Join us for a captivating conversation with Derek Gow, world-renowned conservationist, author and owner of Rewilding Coombeshead, a pioneering species recovery centre in North Devon. A key figure in UK rewilding, Derek shares his vast knowledge and experience on the historical, cultural and ecological significance of beavers.

In this episode, we delve into:

A history of beavers in Britain: Uncover fascinating details about their presence from prehistoric times, their exploitation for various purposes and their eventual decline.

The cultural significance of beavers: Explore their role in Saxon times, their representation in place names and the diverse values placed upon them throughout history, from medicinal uses of castorium to the fur trade.

The future of beavers in Britain: Hear Derek's vision for a fully restored beaver population, the challenges and societal views surrounding their return and the transformative impact they could have on our landscapes.

Also coming up: Find out Derek's verdict as he judges this week's beaver fact off.

Want to discuss anything from this episode or the series with our expert team? We want to hear from you: @BeaverTrust.

Want more beaver? Please subscribe and leave us a review so we can bring the world of beavers to more ears.

The Lodge Cast is a mixture of fact and opinion. It was hosted by Eva Bishop and Emily Bowen, produced and edited by Emma Brisdion and mixed by Mark Skinner for Beaver Trust.

Wildlife comebacks and the human factor with Dr Roger Auster

Join us for an insightful conversation with Dr Roger Auster, lecturer in environmental social science at the University of Exeter, as we delve into the social dimensions of beaver reintroduction and the human element of wildlife recovery and nature restoration. 

In this episode, we will be exploring:

The concept of renewed coexistence: Understand the meaning behind this term, coined by Roger and his colleagues, and why it is vital for the long-term success of species reintroductions.

The importance of social and behavioural research: Why understanding public perceptions, addressing concerns, navigating diverse viewpoints and fostering constructive dialogue is essential for successful beaver reintroduction projects.

The human need for control and the role of beavers: Explore how social science can help people understand the benefits of allowing beavers to contribute to natural processes, such as natural flood management, and the mindset shift required to share landscapes.

Also coming up: Hear Dr. Auster's reaction as he judges this week's highly competitive fact off.

Want to discuss anything from this episode or the series with our expert team? We want to hear from you: @BeaverTrust.

Want more beaver? Please subscribe and leave us a review so we can bring the world of beavers to more ears.

The Lodge Cast is a mixture of fact and opinion. It was hosted by Eva Bishop and Emily Bowen, produced and edited by Emma Brisdion and mixed by Mark Skinner for Beaver Trust.

Community conservation: city life alongside beavers with Dr Sean McCormack

Join us for a fascinating conversation with Dr Sean McCormack, vet, Beaver Trust ambassador, co-founder of Ealing Beaver Project and founder of Ealing Wildlife Group, as we explore beaver reintroductions in the heart of London.

Sean sits at the intersection between community and wildlife reintroduction, and has done a huge amount for raising awareness about beavers and connecting people with their wetlands.

In this episode, we will be finding out about:

The Ealing Beaver project: Hear about the inspirations, challenges and successes of bringing beavers back to an urban environment.

Community engagement: Learn about the importance of community buy-in, diverse perspectives and addressing misconceptions in rewilding projects.

Lessons from beavers: Discover how beavers can teach us about self-willed landscapes, adaptive management and the benefits of stepping back and observing.

Also coming up: Find out who wins the fact off, judged by Sean!

Want to discuss anything from this episode or the series with our expert team? We want to hear from you: @BeaverTrust.

Want more beaver? Please subscribe and leave us a review so we can bring the world of beavers to more ears.

The Lodge Cast is a mixture of fact and opinion. It was hosted by Eva Bishop and Emily Bowen, produced and edited by Emma Brisdion and mixed by Mark Skinner for Beaver Trust.

Why Beavers Are The Cake: with Chris Packham CBE

Who better to close the series than the one and only, Chris Packham CBE?

Chris is a world-renowned naturalist, campaigner, broadcaster and science communicator. He makes waves across the conservation sector for championing the natural world, and we couldn't think of a better guest to help us understand the big stuff: beavers, biodiversity, climate - and the road ahead.

Also coming up: Producer Emma makes an appearance as judge to deliver overall series winners of the #FactOff and the QUIZ.

Need we say more? Dive on in! 

Would you like to discuss anything from this episode or the series with our expert team? We want to hear from you: Beaver Trust. 

Want more beaver? Please subscribe and leave us a lovely little review, so we can bring the joy of beavers to more ears! 

This episode is a mixture of fact and opinion. It was hosted by Eva Bishop and Sophie Pavelle, produced and edited by Emma Brisdion, and mixed by Mark Skinner, for Beaver Trust.

Enabling Water and Finding Resilience: with Professor Richard Brazier

This week we're joined by Professor Richard Brazier - a leading academic in Earth Surface Processes at the University of Exeter and an authority on how beavers interact with a changing landscape.

Richard co-directs the University’s Centre for Resilience in Environment Water and Waste (CREWW), which pioneers research projects that find out how we can better protect the environment and live alongside it. Most notably, Richard was also a key figure in the research that led to the success of the River Otter Beaver Trial in 2020!

Also coming up: the #FactOff challenge and Eva might be leaving Sophie in tears in the QUIZ...

Need we say more? Dive on in! 

Would you like to discuss anything from this episode with our expert team? We want to hear from you: Beaver Trust. 

Want more beaver? Please subscribe and leave us a lovely little review, so we can bring the joy of beavers to more ears! 

This episode is a mixture of fact and opinion. It was hosted by Eva Bishop and Sophie Pavelle, produced and edited by Emma Brisdion, and mixed by Mark Skinner, for Beaver Trust.

Fighting Megafires with Beavers: the return of Dr Emily Fairfax

Following the news that 2023 was officially Earth's hottest year on record, Eva and Sophie want answers.

This week, we return to ecohydrologist, assistant professor and science communicator, Dr Emily Fairfax  - world-renowned beaver researcher and Assistant Professor at the University of Minnesota, and our go-to for all things beaver and wildfire.

Emily is leading groundbreaking research in the States into how beaver wetlands can act as natural firebreaks, and mitigate against extreme climate-induced megafires.

Since she came on The Lodge Cast back in Series 2, it's time for an update. What lessons can Britain learn from the States in enlisting beavers to help strengthen landscape resilience against the climate? How can beavers restore areas of habitat that were destroyed? And why does this matter?

Also coming up: the #FactOff challenge and Sophie tests Eva's spark in the QUIZ...

Need we say more? Dive on in! 

Would you like to discuss anything from this episode with our expert team? We want to hear from you: Beaver Trust. 

Want more beaver? Please subscribe and leave us a lovely little review, so we can bring the joy of beavers to more ears! 

This episode is a mixture of fact and opinion. It was hosted by Eva Bishop and Sophie Pavelle, produced and edited by Emma Brisdion, and mixed by Mark Skinner, for Beaver Trust.

Why Beavers Can Help Us In The Climate and Biodiversity Crisis: with Bob Ward

Greetings fair listeners! And welcome back to a brand new, shiny series of Beaver Trust's The Lodge Cast!

In our sixth series join us on an international journey of discovery, where, with the help of leading experts we navigate the global crisis of climate change, how it is playing out locally here in Britain and where beavers fit into the conversation. It’s a highly complex subject, so in this series we hope to illuminate why that is.

To start us off, we welcome none other than Bob Ward  - Policy and Communications Director of the Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment at the London School of Economics.

As the Deputy Chair of the London Climate Change Partnership, and he’s spoken out on beavers being brought back to Britain, saying that there is a clear need for them to help manage the impacts of climate change, such as flooding, drought and wildfire.

Also coming up: the return of the iconic #FactOff challenge and Eva puts Sophie's climate change knowledge to the test in the QUIZ...

Need we say more? Dive on in! 

Would you like to discuss anything from this episode with our expert team? We want to hear from you: Beaver Trust. 

Want more beaver? Please subscribe and leave us a lovely little review, so we can bring the joy of beavers to more ears! 

This episode is a mixture of fact and opinion. It was hosted by Eva Bishop and Sophie Pavelle, produced and edited by Emma Brisdion, and mixed by Mark Skinner, for Beaver Trust.

Better The Beaver You Know: ’diggering around’ the landscape - with Gerhard Schwab

Who better to close the fifth series of #TheLodgeCast than the man, the myth, the legend - Gerhard Schwab?!

Regarded by many as the ‘Beaver Godfather’ of Europe, with a lifetime of dedication to beaver reintroduction and human/wildlife coexistence gaining him major prominence in the beaver restoration movement across Europe. 

In 1988 Gerhard began what started as a four-year review of Bavarian beavers. And ever since then he has been involved in reintroduction programmes across Europe. He’s designed and implemented a beaver management system for Bavaria, and a training system attended by over 700 local beaver consultants.

Safe to say - Gehard has enormous respect across the reintroduction sector - and without further ado, we invite you to sit comfortably and tune into this frank, pragmatic and provoking conversation!

Also coming up: the FINAL #FactOff of the series, a QUIZ, and a special visit from marvellous Producer Emma, who will give the final scores of the series! Hold onto your (non-beaver) hats! 

Would you like to discuss anything from this episode or the rest of Series 5 with our expert team? We want to hear from you: Beaver Trust. 

Want more beaver? Please subscribe and leave us a lovely little review, so we can bring the joy of beavers to more ears! 

Hosted by Sophie Pavelle and Eva Bishop. 

Produced and edited by Emma Brisdion.

Managing Beavers within Britain’s Licensing Landscape - with Dr Jenny Bryce and Dr Roisin Campbell-Palmer

In this episode, we are joined by two key voices in the beaver management world.

To help us better understand the Scottish lived experience with beavers, and to unpack the opportunities presented by the landmark Scottish Beaver Strategy, we speak to Dr Jenny Bryce a Wildlife Ecologist for NatureScot.

We then pull on our boots, and hit the ground running in a conversation with Dr Roisin Campbell-Palmer - Beaver Trust’s Head of Restoration and the Lodge Cast’s debut returning guest! Roisin offers a reality check on the management of beavers on the field, and reminds us of the hierarchy of mitigation techniques. No situation is the same - it’s catchment dependent - and coexistence often calls for a complex blend of the human and the ecological. 

Both women deliver a fascinating conversation into where Britain is at with beaver reintroduction, and what lessons one nation can learn from another - and how a well-managed, supported future alongside beavers is something we must expect and hope for.

Also coming up: the #FactOff challenge gets hot and Eva tests Sophie to the limits in the QUIZ...

Need we say more? Dive on in! 

Would you like to discuss anything from this episode with our expert team? We want to hear from you: Beaver Trust. 

Want more beaver? Please subscribe and leave us a lovely little review, so we can bring the joy of beavers to more ears! 

Hosted by Sophie Pavelle and Eva Bishop. 

Produced and edited by Emma Brisdion

Balancing Ecological & Cultural Capacities for Beavers in the Czech Republic - with Dr Jitka Uhlíková

We were thrilled to be able to speak with Dr Jitka Uhlíková, - a zoologist who works for the Nature Conservation Agency of the Czech Republic - the expert body of their Ministry of Environment Agency. Based at the headquarters in Prague in the division where action plans for endangered animal species and management plans for conflict species are implemented, Jitka is the coordinator of the Beaver Management Plan.

Jitka tells us, 'beavers taught me humility.' This conversation is an invaluable exploration of the scenario-led approach to beaver management, and Jitka’s experience provides much-needed insight and reassurance for us in Britain. We learn about the ‘5 Pillars’ of beaver management Jitka and her team operate within, and how mitigation decisions can make or break coexistence, and the importance of being proactive - not reactive. 

Also coming up: the #FactOff challenge continues and Eva sits in the hot seat during Sophie’s QUIZ.

Need we say more? Dive on in! 

Would you like to discuss anything from this episode with our expert team? We want to hear from you: Beaver Trust. 

Want more beaver? Please subscribe and leave us a lovely little review, so we can bring the joy of beavers to more ears! 

Hosted by Sophie Pavelle and Eva Bishop. 

Produced and edited by Emma Brisdion.