Beavers in the Wild

Beaver Reintroduction Project

Cornwall Wildlife Trust have been leading and coordinating a project to reintroduce wild beavers into the Par and Fowey catchment area. Over the past two years we have undertaken extensive social and environmental feasibility work and submitted a wild beaver release licence to Natural England. In January 2026 our application was approved, and Cornwall’s first fully licensed wild release swiftly followed in February 2026.  

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Our long-term vision is:

"To achieve a self-sustaining and genetically diverse population of beavers in the project area, so we can collectively feel the benefits from this keystone species being back in the landscape, with landowners and communities supported through the transition to living alongside beavers."

How did we get here?

2023

Since 2023 our Beaver Officer has led on the wild release licence application process, speaking to local landowners and developing our approach to beaver management. 

We established a Beaver Project Steering Group, with local expertise and stakeholders to advise on our project development. Members include Environment Agency, Natural England, Cornwall Council, Westcountry Rivers Trust and South West Water.  

Early 2024

In early 2024 beaver presence was found to be present on our Helman Tor Nature Reserve, which we assume was from an unauthorised release. These beavers have now become resident to Helman Tor and created a 6-acre wetland supporting lots of wildlife

We engaged with stakeholders in the project area, with over 30 meetings and site visits to date.

Winter 2024/25

During December 2024 and January 2025, Cornwall Wildlife Trust hosted four beaver reintroduction public consultation events across the Par and Fowey catchment area, speaking with local residents, farmers, business-owners, recreational river users, fishery interests and other groups living or working in the area. Representatives from Natural England, Beaver Trust, Environment Agency and Woodland Valley Farm were also present at the events, in order for people to hear about beaver ecology, beaver management and the wider picture of beavers in the UK.

February 2025

The UK Government opened applications for wild beaver release projects in England. 

May 2025

Cornwall Wildlife Trust submitted a wild release licence to Natural England for consideration, including information on habitat suitability, stakeholder engagement summaries and a beaver management plan. 

July 2025

It was confirmed that beaver kits had been born at Helman Tor. 

January 2026

Natural England approved Cornwall Wildlife Trust's wild beaver release licence, allowing the release of wild beavers into the Par and Fowey catchment. 

February 2026

As of February 2026, working in partnership with Beaver Trust, Cornwall Wildlife Trust successfully carried out the first releases at Helman Tor, ensuring beavers were sourced appropriately, health screened and best practice animal welfare conditions were followed. 

Next Steps

The project will run over a 10-year period, allowing Cornwall Wildlife Trust to release up to 15 pairs of beavers into the Par and Fowey catchment area. Our Beaver Project Officer will be focused on providing landowner support with learning to live alongside beavers.  

The Beaver Project Team are currently undertaking ongoing monitoring and surveying in the area to monitor the beavers and understand where territories are being established and to monitor impacts on habitat and species.  

We will be developing a network of local volunteers to support our monitoring and management efforts.  

Engagement is ongoing across the area. If you would like to find out more about living alongside beavers and how we can help, get in touch with Lauren Jasper, Beaver Officer at lauren.jasper@cornwallwildlifetrust.org.uk 

Why bring beavers back to the area?

Beavers are super ecosystem engineers. They create wetlands that can significantly benefit other wildlife, absorb carbon dioxide, reduce flooding and improve water quality. 

We know that our project area is suitable for the reintroduction of beaver, with lots of vegetation and slow flowing water and pools of water.

How could beavers benefit the area?

• Beavers could support biodiversity through their activities creating habitat for local species. For example, beaver could help support the rare Willow Tit and Marsh Fritillary butterfly, both of which are present in the area.
• Beavers can help with habitat management too, through grazing on vegetation they can help to open up areas and prevent scrub encroachment, which is needed on much of the designated sites across the area.
• Beavers could help to store more water in the upper reaches of the catchment area, helping with flood alleviation during periods of high rainfall.
• Beavers can also help to increase climate resilience in the area, holding more water during periods of drought and providing a carbon store. 

We would like to see beavers living wild in more Cornish rivers again, so that we can collectively enjoy the benefits they bring. 

Potential impacts 

We understand that some local landowners and stakeholder might have concerns about the reintroduction of beavers to the area. 

Through beaver activities, including burrow, damming and grazing, beavers have the potential to cause conflict. We know that in some situations low levels, or no beaver activity, might be able to be tolerated. Therefore, we want to make sure that we speak to everyone who could be potentially impacted by the engagement, identify any risks and work together to develop our Beaver Management Plan.

As wild beavers are now present in catchments across the UK, more information on the national beaver management approach and living alongside beavers here.

If you have concerns please contact our project team at beavers@cornwallwildlifetrust.org.uk, 07946 042 756.