Project exploring return of lost species wins funding

A joint project involving Derbyshire Wildlife Trust which is exploring bringing back elk to Britain has won funding.

Rewilding Britain has awarded up to £15,000 to Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trusts in the latest round of the Rewilding Innovation Fund, a twice-yearly fund supporting innovative rewilding efforts.

Among the 13 projects awarded funding, several are exploring returning lost keystone species like bison, beaver and European elk to projects in Britain to boost rewilding efforts and accelerate ecosystem recovery.

Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire are working on a project exploring bringing back elk to Britain.

Elk are woodland foragers and wetland grazers, and, according to Derbyshire Wildlife Trust, are major ecosystem engineers and have a profound impact on their environment.

Their grazing helps promote natural regeneration of woodland, and together with their trampling helps maintain open clearings.

Given their fondness for moist vegetation, they can often be found in freshwater wetlands, a habitat also frequented by beavers.

Though beavers have now begun to make a comeback to Britain through several successful reintroductions, the UK currently has no wetland habitats containing both beaver and elk.

The project by Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trusts is hoping to change that.

Rachel Bennett, deputy director of wilder landscapes at Derbyshire Wildlife Trust, said: “This exciting project is working towards the possibility of reintroducing elk into two existing beaver enclosures in Derbyshire and Nottingham, bringing these two key stone species together for the first time in 3,000 years in the UK.

“This project could demonstrate how this crucial ecosystem engineer can thrive in floodplain landscapes, shaping diverse habitats that benefit communities and support biodiversity recovery.

“It may also serve as a catalyst for engaging people in the long-term benefits of returning elk to the wild.”