Local Schools Name Beaver Kits at The Lost Gardens of Heligan

Published On: 13 August 2025Last Updated: 13 August 2025By CornishStuff

📷 The Heligan beaver kits, who were born earlier this year.

Two young beavers born at The Lost Gardens of Heligan have been officially named by pupils from nearby primary schools, marking a special moment in the site’s ongoing beaver reintroduction programme.

How the Names Were Chosen

The kits, now called Lerryn and Willow, were named following special assemblies at Mevagissey School and Gorran School, led by experts from Heligan. More than 150 name suggestions were put forward by children after the sessions, with the final choices made by a panel of judges from Heligan.

Lerryn, proposed by five-year-old Lerryn from Mevagissey School, means “waters” or “flood” in Cornish. The judges felt the name reflected both Cornish heritage and the beavers’ river habitat. Willow was suggested by seven-year-old Ada from Gorran School, chosen because Heligan means “willow tree” in Cornish, willows are common in the enclosure, and the animals enjoy eating them.

📷Lerryn (left) and Ada visit the Heligan beaver enclosure to receive certificates to celebrate their winning names.

Creative Suggestions and Close Contenders

Playful puns featured heavily in the submissions, with Chewbarka, Nora and Egor Beaver all receiving commendations. Justin Beaver proved a popular choice at both schools, while Woody and Chip also appeared frequently. More unusual ideas included Ozzy, Twiglet and Loki.

Heligan’s Praise for the Pupils

Jessica Robinson, learning engagement lead at The Lost Gardens of Heligan, said:

“We are so proud of the children of Mevagissey and Gorran schools who have done Heligan and their communities proud by choosing these names that reflect both local heritage and the natural habitats of our beavers.

We hope these beaver kits will be the first of many born at Heligan as our reintroduction continues to be a success. It’s been incredible to engage so many children in our community on the importance of beavers in our ecosystem and their benefits to biodiversity.”

📷Jess Robinson and Toby Davies from The Lost Gardens of Heligan visit Gorran School for a special assembly giving children the opportunity to name Heligan's new baby beavers, know as kits.

The Beaver Reintroduction at Heligan

The parents of the kits, Twiggy and Byrti, were introduced to a purpose-built enclosure on the Heligan estate in 2023 and 2024 as part of a national programme to reverse more than 400 years of beavers being extinct in the UK.

Beavers are a keystone species and Heligan’s project is monitoring their impact on biodiversity, flood mitigation and grazing livestock. This is one of the first reintroductions in England to deliberately include farmland in the design.

Heligan has worked with The Welsh Beaver Project, Beaver Trust and Natural England on the reintroduction.

Alongside beavers, the estate has also brought in water voles and glow-worms and is planning a red squirrel reintroduction in the future.