A family of Eurasian beavers have been reintroduced to urban Greenford's Paradise Fields in Ealing to improve wildlife for the first time ever.  

This marks a collaborative project aiming to enhance wildlife, bolster climate resilience, foster a deeper connection between Londoners and nature as well as reduce the flood risk in the area. 

Beavers can build dams to make the water around the entrance of their lodge deep enough to access safely, reducing the chance of floods. 

Following public consultation and a special license granted by Natural England, the beavers have been relocated from Scotland by experts from the Beaver Trust and Five Sisters Zoo.  

Local staff and volunteers from the Ealing Beaver Project will closely monitor the beavers as they establish themselves in an eight-hectare fenced enclosure. 

The site will temporarily close for one month to allow the beavers to settle in.  

Subsequently, members of the public can visit the site under staff and volunteer supervision for an additional month.  

After this, full public access will be restored, offering a unique opportunity to witness the emergence of an urban beaver wetland. 

London Mayor Sadiq Khan expressed his delight at the return of beavers to West London after a 400-year absence. 

He said: "I am delighted to welcome back beavers to West London for the first time in 400 years, with the support of my Rewild London Fund.  

"We are facing climate and ecological emergencies worldwide, but we have the power to make a difference, and I am committed to ensuring that London is at the forefront of reversing the trends of declining biodiversity and the destruction of nature." 

A significant volunteer effort has prepared the site for the arrival of these "ecosystem engineers" and community members have received comprehensive training to ensure the welfare of the beavers.  

This collaborative initiative involves Ealing Wildlife Group, Citizen Zoo, Friends of Horsenden Hill, and Ealing Council, with support from Beaver Trust.  

Dr. Sean McCormack, Chair of Ealing Wildlife Group, emphasised the potential benefits of beavers in urban landscapes, not only for wildlife but for people as well.  

He said: "It's unbelievably exciting that after a lot of hard work and volunteer effort to make this happen, we're welcoming beavers back to Ealing.  

Dr McCormack added: "Their activities here over the coming years should provide effective nature-based solutions to urban problems such as flood mitigation and improved water quality.  

"We're also excited to see the wildlife that shows up on site and the effects that having nature on your doorstep can have for urban communities. 

Beavers can build dams to reducing the chance of flooding (credit: Sadiq Khan/ X).

Elliot Newton, co-founder of Citizen Zoo, noted the pioneering nature of the project and its potential to redefine what is possible in urban settings. 

He said: "We are incredibly proud to be part of this pioneering project, which will help to challenge perceptions about what is possible in urban settings.  

"Beavers can be found in urban environments across Europe and North America, and here we will help to demonstrate how we can embrace nature-rich and functional landscapes even in built-up landscapes such as Ealing". 

Ealing Council's Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Climate Action, Councillor Deirdre Costigan, applauded the collaborative partnership and Ealing's commitment to creating new habitats and enhancing the borough's biodiversity.  

She said: "The whole borough is excited about bringing beavers back to Ealing as part of this genuine community partnership.  

"Ealing Council is delighted to have provided funding and dedicated land at Paradise Fields to help make history in Ealing as we provide a home for urban beavers once again." 

Zak Watts, Director of European Sustainability at Amazon, emphasised the importance of Amazon's Right Now Climate Fund in bringing nature back to communities and improving biodiversity.  

He said: "Bringing nature back to the communities where we live and work is a core purpose of our Right Now Climate Fund.  

"Reintroducing a family of beavers to the capital will not only help Londoners discover and reconnect with nature but also help improve our city's biodiversity challenge." 

Beavers are a native species that once thrived in British waterways but were hunted to extinction in the 16th century.

Their reintroduction to the UK, such as this enclosure in Ealing, is contributing to their conservation. 

Funding is provided by the Mayor of London and Amazon's Right Now Climate Fund in partnership with Groundwork London through the Rewild London Fund. 

We want to provide Ealing with more and more clickbait-free local news. To do that, we need a loyal newsletter following. Help us survive and sign up for our free weekly newsletter by clicking the green mail button on the bottom left-hand corner of the homepage. 

Follow us on Facebook , Instagram and X to stay updated on the latest news in your area. Don't miss out!