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Beaver release at Wallington going ‘swimmingly’ as baby kit is born one year on

15th July 2024

Such great news to share that the National Trust has announced the birth of the first baby beaver (a kit) to be born on the Wallington Estate in Northumberland for over 400 years, following the release of a family of Eurasian beavers last year, which we were very proud to support.

Once an everyday sight on rivers around Britain, beavers were hunted to extinction during the sixteenth century, and the family of beavers at Wallington is one of only a few populations in Northern England. Estimated to have been born in late May, the kits arrival is less than twelve months after the release of four beavers into an enclosure in July 2023.

Anne Reece, chair of The Reece Foundation, said: “This has been a very special project to support and amazing to see the successful reintroduction and breeding of beavers in Northumberland. Not only are the beavers helping to make wildlife-rich wetlands, they are also playing a vital role in building an environment more resilient to the effects of climate change, for example flooding events and drought.”

After spotting a heavily pregnant female back in May, the Wallington team have waited with anticipation for confirmation of a successful birth. Recent footage captured on static camera’s placed within the 24 hectare enclosure clearly shows the kit heading back into the family lodge with its mother as well as taking a dip, moving off the embankment into the water.

A team of over 25 National Trust volunteers help look after the Wallington beavers, so far dedicating 208 volunteer hours over the past 12 months. Working alongside the charities ranger team in preparing for the reintroduction and every week since, volunteers conduct twice-weekly fence inspections and carry out emergency repairs and support in monitoring the wellbeing of the animals.

Helen McDonald, the National Trust’s Lead Ranger at Wallington said: “We are thrilled that after an absence of around 400 years we now have beavers back and breeding at Wallington. They have put a lot of effort into building and maintaining their lodges and getting their family settled, showing great perseverance and resilience during their relocation and then during the floods we’ve had over the last year. We’ll continue to monitor the family to check on their health and condition and follow the new kit’s progress.”

Since their reintroduction the team of ‘ecosystem engineers’ have had a busy 12 months creating dynamic systems of dams, canals and burrows.  These are slowing the flow of water through the enclosure, allowing it to spill out creating ponds, deep pools and mudscapes, covering an area similar to half a football pitch. The resulting wetlands are already having a significant impact boosting biodiversity along the river corridor.

The release of beavers to Wallington in 2023 was made possible through a partnership between the National Trust and the Beaver Trust, who carried out the translocation under licence from Nature Scot and Natural England, and generous funding by the Reece Foundation.

For further information about the beaver family at Wallington visit www.nationaltrust.org.uk/wallington.

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