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4 mountains, 3 lakes and the future of an ancient species.
In October 2020, 17 year-old fell-runner Matt Knowles completed a Lake District adventure like no other.
Starting on the shores of the Irish Sea, Matt summitted the 4 tallest peaks in England and swam 3 of the highest lakes in the country, raising awareness for the reintroduction of English beavers.
In total Matt raised over £2000 for the Devon Wildlife Trust and their efforts to bring back the Eurasian Beaver.
About Matt
Growing-up in the southern reaches of the Lake District, 17 year-old Matt quickly became familiar with the rugged fells and cloud-covered valleys of north England's tallest mountains.
A highly talented fell-runner, Matt is a member of the British U20 mountain-running team and helped Great Britain win team gold at the 2019 World Mountain Running championships in Patagonia, Argentina - placing 5th individually.
Currently studying for his A-Levels, Matt is passionate about the future of Britain's wilderness.
A History Of English Beavers
At the end of the 16th century, after decades of habitat destruction and an unrelenting fur-trapping industry, the Eurasian Beaver was declared extinct in the UK.
In the years that followed, native fish populations dwindled in the absence of beaver ponds as declining water quality and biodiversity loss weakened forest ecosystems to devestating effect.
Shortly after the disapearance of Beavers, aggressive agriculture and expanding industry sweeped the land - shrinking British forests to just a fraction of the size they once were.
400 years later however, as Beavers return to the forests and wetlands they once thrived in, a new revolution is unfolding.
From wildflowers to water voles, dragonflies to river otters, the reintroduction of Beavers across the UK is triggering a chain reaction of ecosystem restoration.
In the summer of 2020, thanks to the incredible efforts of the Devon Wildlife Trust, the UK Government announced that wild Beavers would be allowed to roam freely in South-West England.
Following this landmark success, the Trust is now looking to secure the future of Beavers across the whole of England, working with scientists, land-owners and businesses alike to reintroduce this incredible speces back into English forests.
The Devon Wildlife Trust
The Devon Wildlife Trust are at the forefront of national efforts to bring Beavers back into England.
After conducting a pioneering trial for over 5 years, in which a group of Beavers were studied to assess their impact on local ecosystems, their findings were submitted to the Government to assist a decision on the future of English Beavers.
Eventually, after a number of delays and setbacks, the Government announced in August of 2020 that Eurasian Beavers will be allowed to roam freely through the forests and rivers of South West England.
The decision marked the first time an extinct native mammal has been officially reintroduced in England and is the first step in a long road to restoring ancient forests across the UK.
Remarkably, the incredible staff and volunteers at the Devon Wildlife Trust are not stopping here. The team are now working harder then ever to monitor the Beavers to ensure that they are successfully reintroduced, whilst also working to support other projects across England as they move into trial periods.
By raising £500, we will help the Devon Wildlife Trust invest in a 'Beaver Deceiver' - an innovative piece of technology which provides a practical solution to conflicts between Beavers and land-owners in areas where Beaver activity is unwelcome.
The deceiver works by regulating the water level of Beaver dams to reduce unwanted flooding whislt slowly returning the water back upstream. In areas where tensions between land-owners and Beaver reintroduction projects are high, technology such as this enables for peaceful co-existence between all parties.
Special Thanks
Throughout the planning process of this challenge, Matt has received some incredible support from a number of local groups and businesses.
Their unfailng generosity has helped get this project from a simple idea to a soon-to-be reality. Special thanks to Andrea Kelly of Puffin Swim Ambleside, James Gray of The OMM, Alice Peyredieu of AlpKit, and Jake Chant of the Devon Widlife Trust amogst many others.
We would also like to express our gratitude to local videographer Luke Briggs, whose dedication and skill continues to amaze us.
