East Barnet Beavers: Colony Grows to Eleven

A beaver colony residing at Archers Wood, within Forty Hall Farm in East Barnet, has expanded to at least eleven individuals. Recent monitoring has confirmed the presence of new kits alongside adult beavers. This growth marks a significant success for London's first beaver reintroduction programme, which commenced in March 2022.

Project Background and Aims

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East Barnet beavers grow to 11 as scouts visit enclosure

The 4th Enfield Beaver Scouts visited the north London beaver enclosure near Forty Hall.

Enfield Council and Capel Manor College are jointly managing the beaver reintroduction project. The initiative aims to leverage the natural engineering capabilities of beavers to create wetland habitats, boost local biodiversity, and mitigate flood risks within the Turkey Brook catchment. The project is part of the council's broader strategy to restore nature across the borough.

The beavers' activities, such as dam construction and tree felling, are actively transforming the landscape. Evidence of their work, including distinctive pointed tree stumps, is readily observable. These natural interventions help to slow water flow, retaining water during dry spells and reducing the impact of heavy rainfall downstream.

Scout Group Visit

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To commemorate the project's achievements, the 4th Enfield Beavers scout group, aged six to eight, were invited for an evening tour of the enclosure. Accompanied by experts from Enfield Council and Capel Manor College, the young scouts learned about the environmental contributions of their namesake animals. While the beavers themselves remained elusive, the group viewed camera footage showcasing their dam-building and foraging behaviours.

“Few people get the chance to meet the animals they share their name with, so it was wonderful to welcome 4th Enfield Beavers to our beaver enclosure and celebrate two very special milestones together.”

Cllr Andrew Thorp, Enfield Council Cabinet Member for Communications and Customer Services

Councillor Andrew Thorp, who also serves as a local scout leader, highlighted the significance of the visit, connecting the scouts' milestone with the beavers' successful establishment in Enfield. He emphasised the role of nature-based solutions in addressing environmental challenges like flood risk and biodiversity loss.

Future Ambitions

Victoria Beckwith, Head of Forty Hall Farm at Capel Manor College, expressed enthusiasm for the growing beaver numbers and their positive environmental impact. She noted the project's integration of conservation, education, and community engagement, providing students with practical learning experiences. The college and its partners hold a long-term ambition to explore further beaver reintroduction possibilities.