Beavers at Trewithen Estate: The Story So Far

Three years on from releasing a pair of beavers at Trewithen Estate, we share the story of how they have brought an ecosystem back to life.

When we introduced beavers to a tucked-away wetland at Trewithen Estate, we were told to expect a time to come: a tipping point moment of realisation of just how profoundly the ecosystem had changed. Recently, standing by the water’s edge of a pond rippling and darting with life, immersed in a chorus of birdsong, that moment had arrived. This visit to the beaver’s habitat felt like a quiet crescendo, a call to pause and recognise something extraordinary: the explosion in biodiversity three years on from the return to this corner of Cornwall of Britain’s once-lost mammal.

New beginnings and new life

In the summer of 2022, a pair of beavers travelled from Scotland to their new home within a carefully designed 3 Hectare enclosure on the estate. They settled immediately, choosing a sheltered island in the middle of the pond to build their lodge. From that point on, the pace of change to the habitat this keystone species brought was remarkable.

Trees felled by the beavers sent new shoots climbing skyward; their rotational coppicing has seen willow and alder thrive. Meticulously constructed dams started to appear, raising the water level and creating a mosaic of new pools. With the changing water came an influx of insects, amphibians, birds, and plants that quickly began to recolonise the revitalised wetland. Now, coots; Canada geese; trout, and Broad-bodied Chasers are regularly spotted amongst more allusive otters, herons, even the occasional snipe, who inhabit and visit the wetland.

An historic landscape

Among the species flourishing are tussock sedges — grasses whose lineage stretches back before the last ice age. Their presence offers a glimpse into how this valley might once have looked, before centuries of river channelisation drained our wetlands and diminished their ability to support life. The return of beavers, hunted to extinction in mainland Britain by the 16th century for their fur, meat, and scent glands, is a reconnection with the natural processes that shaped our landscapes for millennia.

Beavers and farming: interplay at Trewithen

Our beavers live within a valley stream surrounded by organic farmland: woodland creation and regenerative farming are also at play in the Trewithen Estate landscape. Knowing as we do that a thriving ecosystem works hand in hand with productive farming, we already feel their reintroduction has brought return on investment, in many more ways than one. A recent study by a University of Exeter student at our enclosure explored how beaver dams filter nitrates and phosphates, and research into the impacts of beaver created wetlands on water quality, through sediment and carbon storage, is only just emerging.

Looking to a future for nature

The following summer after the pair’s release, our beavers had their first kits. The pair’s family is still thriving and this July, we were thrilled to see another pair of healthy kits emerging from the lodge. These beavers may be wild animals, but we maintain a close eye on their health and welfare, as well as the evolving landscape within the enclosure. We are grateful to partners at the Beaver Trust, Derek Gow Consultancy, and at other beaver projects on Cornwall for collaboration and advice sharing.

We were uplifted by the Government’s long-awaited decision earlier this year to approve wild beaver releases in England. Cornwall Wildlife Trust’s thoughtful and thorough approach to releasing beavers in the Fowey catchment, as is planned, is particularly inspiring. One day, we hope that our beavers might contribute to a rigorously considered, carefully managed wild release project here in Cornwall, with its steep and rough grassland valleys, wet woodland corridors, and fen edged waterways. For now, our ambition is to allow the beavers to continue to thrive in their quiet corner, watching from a close distance but taking a backseat to these ecosystem engineers.

We are excited to now share news of Trewithen’s beavers and look forward to sharing their story as it unfolds. The transformation of this quiet valley is more than ecological success - it is a reminder that when given the chance, nature comes back with extraordinary force.