Beavers at Belhus Woods Country Park

Beavers are a native keystone species that were hunted to extinction nearly 400 years ago for their fur and natural secretion, called castoreum, which was used for both perfumes and medicine. Beavers once shaped Britain’s waterways, creating thriving wetlands and complex river systems brimming with invertebrates, amphibians, birds and fish. As the Beaver Trust has shown through extensive research, they are a vital species that can help us tackle the climate and biodiversity emergencies. They can play a crucial role in building climate resilient landscapes, restoring freshwater habitats and the species that rely on them.

In Scotland, the largest wild population of beavers lives in the Tay catchment, and has spread into the River Forth catchment. In England, there have been a few successful reintroductions of beavers into the UK, most notably in Devon and recently in West London (Paradise Fields, Ealing). This fundraising initiative is the first step in a plan to release, under licence from Natural England, beavers into the water bodies at Belhus Woods Country Park on the edge of East London.

Belhus Woods Country Park is a 320-acre site comprising ancient woodlands, hay meadows, lakes, streams, recreational grassland and a network of paths. It is enjoyed by approximately 200,000 visitors a year who enjoy the chance to immerse themselves in nature, play on the musical playground and observe local animals and birds, including the rare lesser spotted woodpecker. It is located in south Essex between Upminster and Aveley.

There is already significant support for the project from key experts and stakeholders:

• The UK leading Beaver specialist Derek Gow came to assess habitat suitability for Beavers at Belhus back in 2018 and concluded that it was a highly suitable habitat.

• Natural England’s Lead Advisor Chris Keeling has also been to the site and written a letter of support for the project.

• A meeting was held with the neighbouring landowner, Woodland Trust, and their officers are hugely supportive of the project.

• Dr. Roisin Campbell Palmer, Head of Restoration at the Beaver Trust, has agreed to support the project and be our named ecologist on the licence application.

A feasibility study, costing £4,200 (£3,500 + VAT), is required as part of the licence application and we are fundraising for this. This is a critical first step in our plan to bring beavers back into Belhus Woods Country Park .Once this has been secured we can move forward with the wider project (see below).

Wider Project

The Belhus Woods Country Park Beaver Project is highly ambitious project that is designed to inspire visitors to understand the role that the beaver can play in tackling the climate and biodiversity emergencies we all face.

The project has three phases:

• Years 1-3 (approx.): release a pair of Beavers into an enclosure on running water brook/brick kiln wood.

• Years 3-5 (approx.): Translocate any potential offspring (once mature) to a nearby enclosure at Huntshill lake south (another location in Belhus Woods Country Park) to establish another community.

• Years 5-7 (approx.): Expand the enclosure at Huntshill lake south to include the north lake to accommodate any further Beaver offspring.

A separate fund raising initiative will be undertaken to fund these various phases and it is expected to cost in excess of £30,000.