The Beavers' Return

Sue Cartwright • 16 September 2023

A story about the reintroduction of Beavers to the Ardennes

The Beavers' Return - A Poem by Sue Cartwright, Spiral Leaf


At the Bialowieza conference in 1999;

A Belgium nature-loving activist discusses the return;

Of Beavers to the land, but no, they said, it is of no concern;

Away with you, please leave now, this meeting is adjourned.


So he drove off to Bavaria, Olivier was his name;

Collecting healthy Beavers in the Beaver-bombing way;

With pre-selected sites, ideal, located in Ardennes;

He let them go in secret and then went home to bed.


There were no laws for relocating Beavers back then;

They could not be returned or taken home again;

So the Beavers bred successfully in Willow wooded valleys;

Their dams slowed down the water flows that flooded the communities.


On the court day brought to try what Olivier had done;

Liabilities would be placed on any Beaver damage done;

His lawyers said that they would need clear proof of origin;

But as the Beavers had since bred, his clever ruse won.



Sue Cartwright

Spiral Leaf


[Edited on 17 September 2023]


Spiral Leaf - Buy the Book

Further Reading!

Recommended books are available for sale in the Spiral Leaf affiliate bookshop.


Bringing Back The Beaver by Derek Gow

The secret movement bringing Europe’s wildlife back from the brink by Isobel Cockerell, Coda Story


Thank you for sharing!

 for you, for me and for Mother Nature

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