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Beavers released into the wild to help nature in Somerset

A brown beaver swims through dark water on a rainy dayJames Beck

Beavers have been released into the wild at two places in Somerset as experts hope they'll help bring a river and a wetland back to life.

The National Trust was given special permission to introduce them to Holnicote Estate on Exmoor National Park on Tuesday.

The charity's first beaver release took place in March at the Purbeck Estate in Dorset.

One group included a mum and her three children, whilst the other involved a pair of Eurasian beavers.

A big log in an open grassy area, with trees and a grey sky in the background

Holnicote Estate in Somerset

Conservationists say that beavers can help the environment because their dams and wetlands can change the landscape, create new homes for wildlife, and even help protect against floods and droughts.

Ben Eardley, who is a project manager at the National Trust, said their release was "incredibly exciting".

He explained: "They will have the opportunity to develop their own territory, enabling them to create wetlands, ponds, build dams, and enrich the landscape in ways only beavers can."

He added that beavers play a "vital role" in slowing down water flow, reducing erosion and improving water quality.

Keep reading to find out five interesting facts about beavers!

1. Beavers are Britain's largest rodent

A brown beaver with a stocky body and flat hairless tail walks over a muddy wetland which is surrounded by tall green grassGetty Images

Beavers are semi-aquatic rodents

Beavers come from the same group of mammals that includes rats, mice, and voles.

However, they have adapted for aquatic environments.

They have thick waterproof fur, webbed toes and flat, scaly tails.

2. They have distinctive orange teeth

A close up of a brown beaver with it's mouth open, showing its long, orange, rectangular shaped teethGetty Images

Beavers use their teeth to gnaw through wood

Their gnashers are this colour because their their tooth enamel is rich in iron.

This makes their teeth strong enough to gnaw through wood.

3. They're amazing swimmers and divers

A brown beaver swims through green water with only it's eyes, ears and nose peeking above the water's surfaceGetty Images

Beavers can swim at speeds of up to five miles per hour

According to the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), beavers can swim at speeds of up to five miles per hour - that's twice as fast as most humans!

They're also fantastic divers and can hold their breath for up 15 minutes underwater.

They even have a third, transparent eyelid that protects their eyes when they're diving.

4. Beavers are herbivores

A brown beaver chews on a green leaf, holding it in its front paws, as it stands next to some dark waterGetty Images

In autumn, beavers hide their food to save it for winter

Beavers only eat plants, including bark from aspen and willow trees.

They stash their food away in the autumn, so that it's ready to eat through the winter.

5. They were extinct in Britain 400 years ago

A brown beaver perches on some branches which are dipping into some dark water. Some of the branches have small green leavesGetty Images

Beavers are now protected by the law in the UK

At the time, wild beavers had been over-hunted for their fur, meat and glands (which produced a smelly liquid that was used in perfumes.)

They had also lost lots of their wetland habitats.

Now, beavers are protected by the law in the UK, which means people aren't allowed to harm them.