Nature and Nurture, a two-hectare riparian woodland in Wiltshire, has implemented a successful strategy to protect its valuable cricket bat willow trees from Eurasian beaver damage. The woodland, located along the River Avon, used a Countryside Stewardship Protection and Infrastructure grant (BC4) to install welded-mesh tree guards around approximately 600 cricket bat willows.
Eurasian beavers have been present in the area for at least three years, felling five cricket bat willows and causing a loss of valuable timber. Landowner Tristram Lewis opted for individual tree protection due to the site's layout and concerns about seasonal flooding impacting a full perimeter fence.
Between 2023 and 2024, the tree guards were installed to a height of 100 to 120cm, exceeding the minimum requirement to account for floodwaters that can reach over one metre. Initially, hardwood stakes were used, but concerns about rotting in waterlogged conditions led to approval from the Rural Payments Agency to switch to rebar metal stakes. This change has significantly reduced the need for replacements or repairs.
While some unprotected native alder and willow trees are still foraged, no protected trees have been lost to beaver damage since the guards were installed. Tristram Lewis plans to continue using these methods for new cricket bat willow plantings.