A MAJOR trial to bring back beavers to a Scottish forest has won an award as Britain's Best Conservation Project.

The Scottish Beaver Trial was the first licensed mammal reintroduction project to take place in the UK and was launched in 2009, bringing wild Eurasian beavers into the Knapdale Forest in Argyll. It was given the award in the BBC Countryfile Magazine Awards.

The beaver trial is in its final year and is due to finish in May. The results will then be reviewed before a decision is made on the future of the species in Scotland. Simon Jones, project manager for the Scottish Beaver Trial, said: "This is amazing recognition for the project."