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Beaver 'engineers' released to create wetlands

Crispin Rolfein Boothby, Lincolnshire
News imageBBC A small brown beaver is captured mid‑step as it emerges from an open transport crate lined with straw. Its dense fur is slightly ruffled, and bits of straw cling to its coat. The beaver’s head is low to the ground as it sniffs the earth just outside the crate. Behind it, the metal sides of the crate frame the scene while loose straw spills out onto the grass.BBC
The family of four beavers have been released into the West Glen River near Grantham, Lincolnshire

A family of beavers has been released into a Lincolnshire river to live in what officials claim is England's largest beaver enclosure.

The four animals are expected to help return the West Glen River near Grantham to a more natural course after centuries of being straightened and deepened to drain farmland.

The family will live in an enclosure measuring about 200 hectares (494 acres) which includes 20,000ft (6,000m) of specialist perimeter fencing and shelters made by community volunteers.

Claire Barrett from Nattergal, which runs the site, said: "The beavers will be our nature engineers and create an amazing complex of wetland habitats which bring in other species to enjoy the landscape."

The moment a family of four beavers is released into the West Glen River in Lincolnshire

The release is part of a 30‑year restoration project by nature recovery company Nattergal, which began transforming Boothby Wildland in 2021.

Barrett described the release of the beavers as an "important milestone" for the restoration project which she hoped would bring an "amazing transformation".

She said: "The landscape will look very different in the years to come. We hope having the beavers here will clean the water and provide lots of habitats for species such as birds and bats.

"There are not just benefits for nature, but benefits for people in terms of alleviating flooding downstream."

News imageA woman with shoulder-length brown hair stands outdoors in a grassy, waterlogged landscape with soft-focus trees and pools of water behind them. They are wearing a dark blue zip-up jacket with two embroidered logos on the chest, including one reading "Nattergal".
Claire Barrett says the beavers will help to attract nature to the area and alleviate flooding downstream
News imageA beaver is shown swimming through shallow water, its wet brown fur glistening as it pushes forward among thin reeds. Its nose and whiskers sit just above the surface. Ripples spread around the animal as it moves through the calm water, with stems of reeds partially obscuring the foreground.
The four animals were brought from Scotland to live in Lincolnshire

The beavers were brought to Lincolnshire from Scotland by the Beaver Trust which studied the landscape to ensure it would provide a suitable new home.

Dr Roisin Campbell‑Palmer, head of restoration at the trust, said: "They [the beavers] glided into the water, did lots of diving and coming up again.

"There's some lovely artificial lodges built here, and immediately they were investigating them.

"You can see there's so much habitat here and a nice deep pond, so I think these animals will do very well."

News imageA woman wearing an olive‑green T‑shirt with a small nature‑themed logo on the chest stands in an open, grassy field with dry, pale vegetation stretching into the background. Their dark hair is tied back, blowing slightly in the breeze.
Dr Roisin Campbell‑Palmer said the beavers would "do well" in their new habitat

Guided tours of the beaver enclosure will begin later in 2026, including family‑friendly visits during school holidays.

Organisers said the chances of seeing the nocturnal animals during the day would be slim but added the tours would offer a first hand look at the animals' damming and digging skills.

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