Beavers released at London site

22/10/2023

Beavers have been reintroduced to London for the first time in some 400 years after a family of five was released at a site in Ealing.

The mammals were released at Paradise Fields, an area of wetlands in Ealing. They were relocated from a wild beaver population in Scotland by a coalition of wildlife groups.


The release was organised by a coalition of wildlife groups and was paid for as part of the mayor's Rewild London Fund (PA Media).

The project is being paid for as part of the mayor's Rewild London Fund. Sean McCormack, a vet and chair of Ealing Wildlife Group, said the mammals could play an important part in London's urban wildlife, explaining that there had been plans to spend money on flood prevention measures in Greenford but the beavers were offered as a "cost-effective, nature-based" solution.

The area where the beavers have been released will be closed to the public for one month to allow the animals to settle in. Dr McCormack said the public would later be welcomed on 'beaver safaris'.

The Ealing project is among 21 others across the capital which are planned to help restore wildlife. In total, it is hoped about 116 ha of habitat will be restored or created. So far City Hall has committed £850,000, with an extra £1 million of funding for new rewilding projects having now been pledged.