Beavers back in county

A family of beavers has been released this week into England’s largest enclosure on the nature restoration site at Boothby Wildland.

The beavers have been moved from Scotland to the site operated by nature restoration company Nattergal as part of the project to restore the natural habitat along the West Glen River in the county.

Nattergal described the mammals as ‘wonderful ecosystem engineers’ who will slow the flow of the river and create a magical wetland habitat in their 200-hectare enclosure, which was created after a two-year project with local volunteers.

The family of four was brought to Lincolnshire by Beaver Trust, which added the animals’ reintroductions was a key element in the efforts at Boothby to ‘re-wiggle’ the river.

Dr Roisin Campbell-Palmer, Head of Restoration at Beaver Trust, said: “Our feasibility assessment showed that Boothby Wildland has the space, hydrology and long-term management commitment needed to support beavers successfully. Working with the Nattergal team and seeing that groundwork translate into this release is a great moment for this nature restoration project.”

The community volunteers played an essential role, according to the Trust, helping with willow whip planting, maintaining monitoring equipment, and supporting the infrastructure needed for the UK’s most ambitious beaver rewilding enclosure.

Sue Gammons, Volunteer and Local Resident, explained: “Over the past two years, volunteering regularly at Boothby has been extremely rewarding, seeing the landscape evolve firsthand and the diversity of mammals, birds, flowers, and insects flourish. I’m especially excited about the beavers’ role in shaping the ecosystem, as their efforts are likely to create new wetland areas, boosting biodiversity even further and contributing to a healthier, more dynamic environment.”

Boothby Wildland will open for guided visitor tours this spring to witness beavers’ transformative impact on the landscape and learn more about how rewilding supports natural flood management, biodiversity recovery and climate resilience.

Family-friendly tours during school holidays have also been scheduled to enhance access for younger audiences.

Tours can be booked online at boothbywildland.com.

Pictures: Beaver Trust