Why it’s boom time for beavers in England

Science Weekly

The Guardian

Science

4.2 • 938 Ratings

🗓️ 4 March 2025

⏱️ 18 minutes

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Summary

Beavers were once abundant in the UK, but hunting them for their fur, meat and scent oil drove them to extinction. Now they’re back, with the news that the release of beavers into English waterways is to be allowed for the first time in centuries. To understand why this is seen as a huge win for the environment, Madeleine Finlay hears from the Guardian’s environment reporter Helena Horton.. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/sciencepod

Transcript

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0:00.0	This is The Guardian.
0:11.4	What happens to example to all the food that doesn't get sold in our supermarkets?
0:14.9	I am scanning the surplus food left over from today to go to our turities.
0:20.7	You always wonder that as a customer, what actually happens to it?
0:23.3	Tesco's as a whole, donated 220 million meals since 2016.
0:29.0	Tesco is aiming to redistribute 85% of all unsold edible food by December 2025.
0:35.6	To find out how, visit the guardian.com forward slash Tesco sustainability.
0:40.1	This message was paid for by Tesco.
0:45.7	Science Weekly is brought to you by The Great Grid Upgrade from National Grid.
0:52.1	The Great Grid upgrade is the largest overhaul of the electricity grid
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1:04.6	threads through everything we do. From this podcast to your phone or home, from your daily
1:09.9	cupper to your regular, and everything in between.
1:14.0	But the way we power our lives is changing, as we reduce our reliance on fossil fuels and increase clean energy generation from sources such as wind and solar power.
1:25.2	That's why National Grid is working to deliver the great grid upgrade. It's the
1:30.7	largest overhaul of the electricity grid in generations, connecting more clean renewable energy
1:36.6	from where it's generated to where it's needed. Continuing to power all the things you love to do,
1:43.3	like keeping up to date with the news
1:45.0	or listening to your favourite podcasts.
1:48.5	Visit nationalgrid.com or search for the great grid upgrade to find out more.
1:57.5	The first time I saw a beaver was a few years ago.
2:04.4	It was June.
	...

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