It may not look very impressive, but this is evidence of beaver activity in Honiton.

Last month a local resident reported a felled apple tree in Millers Way community orchard. A beaver ranger from the Devon Wildlife Trust inspected the site and confirmed the presence of at least one beaver in the Gissage – and there could soon be more if breeding takes place during the winter.

It's the first time their presence has been found in an East Devon town.

The ranger, Jake Chant, said: "Beavers sometimes build dams in streams to create deeper water. The deep water creates a safe underwater entrance to the beavers' home, which is often a burrow in the bank.

"We will regularly monitor the river to identify any activity which might pose a risk and take necessary steps to make sure it's safe.

"During the summer beavers mainly eat riverside vegetation and in the winter they are more likely to feed on the bark of trees. Tree guards and wire mesh are being put in place to protect some of the trees in the area.

"If the beavers stay on the Gissage they're likely to breed this winter and have kits in spring. I will be checking in on the beavers regularly."

Learning more about Honiton's beavers

Meanwhile, East Devon District Council's Countryside Team will be working to inform and educate Honiton's residents about the beavers, starting with visits to local schools.

Cllr Geoff Jung, East Devon District Council's Portfolio Holder for Coast, Country and Environment, said: "We are delighted to see the expansion of beavers in our area.

"We'll work closely with partners at Devon Wildlife Trust, East Devon AONB and Honiton Town Council to ensure the beavers and the public are safe.

"We will do everything we can to protect this new population of urban beavers, and officers will monitor and manage the beavers to make sure they remain safe and to record their activity in the river."

If people would like to get involved in helping to monitor the beavers and their habitat, or if they have concerns about their presence, they can email [email protected]

Read more about East Devon's River Otter beaver population and the Government's plans to reintroduce the species to England's countryside here.