In a twist that might make you snort into your tea, a Reform UK council in Leicestershire has decided to bring back wild beavers. Yes, beavers. The very same party whose leader, Nigel Farage, once called the idea of putting a beaver on a banknote "absolutely crackers."
This isn't just about cute, industrious rodents; it's about flood control. Leicestershire, apparently, gets a bit soggy. So, while the national Reform party has been giving rewilding the side-eye, this local council is betting on beavers to be their furry, dam-building saviors. Because apparently that's where we are now.
It's been a long journey for beavers in England, about 400 years to be exact, since they were hunted to extinction for their fur and oil. Now, thanks to some recent legislation, they're making a comeback. And environmental groups are thrilled. These aren't just pretty faces; beavers are, as one councillor put it, "great natural engineers." They build dams, which means less flooding during deluges and more water stored during droughts. Plus, bonus points for improving water quality and boosting populations of everything from bats to fish.
We're a new kind of news feed.
Regular news is designed to drain you. We're a non-profit built to restore you. Every story we publish is scored for impact, progress, and hope.
Start Your News DetoxAdam Tilbury, a Reform councillor and cabinet member for environment and flooding, told the BBC that beavers could be a "real solution" for Leicestershire's persistent flooding woes. He even suggested they could boost tourism. Another councillor, Joseph Boam, took to X (formerly Twitter) to declare, "Reform UK-led Leicestershire is bringing BEAVERS BACK. Making Britain great again, one beaver at a time. Natural flood defence. Restored habitats. Real solutions." One beaver at a time, indeed.
The Beaver Battle Within Reform UK
This beaver-centric decision has, predictably, stirred the pot within Reform UK. The party's leader, Nigel Farage, has been pretty clear about his skepticism regarding large-scale rewilding. He even famously scoffed at the idea of putting a beaver on British banknotes instead of, say, Winston Churchill. "Absolutely crackers," he said. Let that sink in.
It seems there's a mini-rebellion brewing, or at least a significant divergence of opinion. While Farage once flirted with the idea of having nature campaigner Ben Goldsmith help draft the party's environmental policies, those plans were ultimately rejected. Goldsmith, a staunch beaver advocate who has released them on his own estate, believes that if Reform becomes "pro-beaver," it could signal a broader shift towards ambitious nature restoration. Which, if you think about it, is both impressive and slightly terrifying for anyone trying to keep the party line straight.
Turns out, a significant chunk of potential Reform voters — over 80%, according to some polling — actually do care deeply about nature. So, while the national party might be wrestling with the optics, Leicestershire is just out here, getting things done, one furry, dam-building engineer at a time. Who knew beavers would become the unlikely mascots of political infighting?
