Specialist Beaver Surveys for planning and development across Gloucestershire, providing clear ecological assessment for projects affecting the Severn, Frome, Upper Thames and the county’s wider network of rivers and wetlands.
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Gloucestershire contains an extensive network of rivers, streams, wetlands and floodplains, with freshwater habitats extending across the Severn Vale, Forest of Dean and Cotswolds.
The county is also actively exploring the future reintroduction of free living beavers, with ecological feasibility work identifying extensive areas of potentially suitable habitat.
A Beaver Survey may be requested where current ecological information, field evidence or the characteristics of a development indicate that beavers could be affected.
This may include:
The presence of suitable freshwater habitat does not automatically mean a Beaver Survey is required.
Where an LPA requests further ecological information, ProHort can undertake the appropriate assessment and provide clear ecological evidence to support the planning application.
Gloucestershire sits across several major freshwater systems.
The River Severn provides the dominant river corridor through the county, accompanied by tributaries and catchments including the Frome, Leadon, Chelt and Little Avon.
Eastern Gloucestershire forms part of the Upper Thames catchment, with rivers including the Churn, Coln, Leach and Windrush flowing through the Cotswolds towards the Thames.
The western edge of the county also reaches the River Wye catchment through the Forest of Dean.
Depending on the location of your development, the relevant Local Planning Authority may include:
Gloucester City Council
Cheltenham Borough Council
 Stroud District Council
 Cotswold District Council
 Tewkesbury Borough Council
 Forest of Dean District Council
Where an LPA considers that development could affect beavers or protected breeding and resting sites, it may request appropriate ecological information before determining the application.
Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017 (as amended)
Eurasian beavers are a European Protected Species. The legislation protects beavers from deliberate killing, injury, capture and disturbance, and protects their breeding sites and resting places from damage or destruction.
Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (as amended)
Provides additional legal protection relevant to beavers, including controls relating to certain methods of capture and their release into the wild.
For development in Gloucestershire, proposed works that could affect beavers, their breeding or resting sites, or important supporting habitat may require appropriate ecological assessment, mitigation and, in some circumstances, a Natural England licence.
ProHort provides proportionate, evidence led advice and reporting to help support a compliant route through planning.
Gloucestershire is actively preparing for the possible return of free living beavers.
Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust, working with Forestry England, has undertaken a county wide Beaver Reintroduction Feasibility Study examining where beavers could potentially establish and how their return could interact with people, infrastructure, land management and other wildlife.
Initial habitat assessment identified more than 1,000 kilometres of Gloucestershire watercourses that could potentially provide suitable beaver habitat.
The work has included ecological assessment, habitat suitability modelling, consideration of flood risk and potential dispersal patterns, and engagement with landowners and other stakeholders.
Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust has welcomed the introduction of England's licensing framework for wild beaver releases and continues to explore whether a future wild release would be suitable for the county.
This should not be interpreted as evidence that beavers are already established throughout Gloucestershire.
For planning applications, current ecological records and site evidence remain more important than future reintroduction proposals.
The River Frome provides a particularly important ecological corridor through the Stroud area.
Its catchment includes a network of streams, valleys, wet woodland, riverbanks and associated freshwater habitats before the river ultimately reaches the Severn.
The catchment is already the focus of substantial ecological work, including river restoration, natural flood management and species recovery.
Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust and its partners have developed a strategic approach to improving the River Frome and its connected habitats.
For developments around Stroud, Stonehouse and the wider Frome catchment, ecological assessment may therefore need to consider the relationship between the proposed works and the wider river corridor.
Where an LPA requests information relating to beavers, this assessment should remain focused on current evidence and the potential effects of the development rather than assuming presence from habitat suitability alone.
Western Gloucestershire provides another distinct freshwater setting.
The Forest of Dean contains streams, woodland watercourses and wetlands, while its western boundary interacts with the River Wye catchment.
The River Wye is a Special Area of Conservation, creating additional ecological considerations for appropriate development within its catchment.
These designated site considerations are separate from determining whether a Beaver Survey is required.
Where beavers are relevant, the assessment should specifically consider current activity, protected breeding or resting sites and the potential effects of the proposed works.
This helps ensure ecological work remains proportionate and focused on the requirements of the project.
Our specialist ecology team assesses suitable habitat and identifies evidence of beaver activity, including feeding signs, tracks, burrows, lodges and dams.
You receive clear, planning ready advice identifying any ecological constraints and the appropriate recommendations for your project.
• Beaver activity and habitat assessment
• Mapping of relevant burrows, lodges, dams and field signs
• Development impact assessment
• Clear mitigation and avoidance recommendations
• Natural England licensing advice where required
• LPA ready ecological report with practical next steps
Our reports provide the ecological information needed to help you respond to planning requirements and progress your Gloucestershire project.
We review your plans, site location, freshwater habitats and available ecological information to understand the project and any ecological issues that may need to be addressed.
Our ecologists survey suitable watercourses and connected habitats for beaver activity, including feeding signs, tracks, burrows, lodges and dams.
We assess how the proposed works could affect beavers, protected features, movement routes and supporting habitat.
You receive a clear, LPA ready report setting out the findings and any appropriate avoidance, mitigation, monitoring or licensing recommendations.
Has your LPA requested a Beaver Survey, or are you planning works affecting a Gloucestershire river, stream, wetland or bankside habitat?
ProHort can undertake the appropriate ecological assessment and provide clear, planning ready reporting to help you respond to the LPA’s requirements and progress your project.
Gloucestershire is actively assessing the potential reintroduction of free living beavers, but the county should not currently be treated in the same way as areas with established wild populations. Current ecological records and site evidence should be considered for individual developments.
Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust and Forestry England have undertaken feasibility work examining whether a wild reintroduction would be suitable. This does not mean that a county wide wild release has already taken place.
Feasibility work by Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust identified more than 1,000 kilometres of watercourse that could potentially provide suitable beaver habitat. Habitat suitability, however, does not demonstrate that beavers are currently present.
Potentially, where current ecological information indicates beavers may be relevant and proposed works could affect suitable habitat or protected features. Proximity to the River Severn alone does not automatically establish a survey requirement.
Potentially. The Frome provides an extensive freshwater corridor through the Stroud area. Whether further beaver assessment is required will depend on current ecological evidence, the proposed works and the requirements of the LPA.
The Churn, Coln, Leach and Windrush form part of the Upper Thames catchment and provide extensive freshwater connectivity through the Cotswolds. Suitable habitat alone does not establish that beavers are present or that a Beaver Survey is required.
No. Proximity to a river, stream or wetland does not automatically establish a survey requirement. The relevant LPA determines what ecological information is required for the planning application.
Our ecologists can look for gnawed or felled trees, feeding remains, tracks, slides, scent mounds, burrows, lodges and dams, alongside evidence of how beavers may be using the surrounding habitat.
Beaver Surveys can be undertaken throughout the year, although October to March normally provides the most accurate conditions for detecting field signs because bankside vegetation is reduced.
If your Local Planning Authority requests further information relating to beavers, ProHort can undertake the appropriate ecological assessment and provide a clear, LPA ready report to support your planning application.
Where activity or protected features are identified, our ecologists can provide proportionate recommendations for avoidance, mitigation, further monitoring or licensing where applicable, helping you respond to the LPA’s requirements and keep your project progressing.
