We are delighted to announce the arrival of at least 2 new beaver kits at Paradise Fields, following the reintroduction of beavers to urban London in October 2023. The new babies were born this Spring and have emerged outside the lodge in recent recent weeks at the fully accessible, public site.
The historic births mark the end of a more than 400 year absence of breeding beavers in urban London, once permanent residents in the capital, before hunting, habitat loss and persecution led to the extinction of the species throughout the UK. Their arrival is proof that humans and wildlife can thrive side by side in urban environments.
Beaver kits are usually born in Spring, from April to June, but are rarely seen outside their lodges until July or later. The kits spend two to three years with their parents before setting off to find their own territories.
Camera trap footage of Ealing Beaver kits
The Ealing Beaver Project received support from the Mayor of London’s Rewild London Fund. The Mayor himself has been a personal champion of the project and helped reintroduce beavers on the site in October 2023. The Mayor, Sadiq Khan offering his thoughts on the new kits:
The Ealing Beaver Project team is ecstatic about the new members of the Ealing beaver family which is proof that the beavers are thriving in their new urban home. Here’s what some of the team members had to say about the new arrivals.
Chair of Ealing Wildlife Group
Support from the Beaver Trust was crucial for the project, who lent their expertise during site consultations and the translocation of beavers. Eva Bishop from Beaver Trust adds:
Paradise Fields has already seen the creation of 6 dams, enabling the site to hold more water, and already demonstrating the ecosystem services provided by the Beavers. Improved water quality, reduced flooding, more insects and other wildlife on site, habitat improvements.
We’re grateful for the colossal volunteer effort that went into the project, from site preparation before the Beavers’ arrival to ongoing monitoring efforts on site.
With at least two cute baby beavers to boot! We’re thrilled, and look forward to welcoming more visitors on our walking tours and beaver watching safaris. We also welcome donations to help the ongoing costs of this community and volunteer led project.