Baby Beavers Born in Landmark Success for Heligan Reintroduction Project

Beaver kits mark major breakthrough for Heligan’s reintroduction efforts

A pair of beavers introduced to The Lost Gardens of Heligan estate have successfully bred, producing two baby beavers known as kits.

The parents, named Twiggy and Byrti, were brought into a specially designed enclosure at Heligan in 2023 and 2024 as part of a national reintroduction effort to restore the species, which was extinct in the UK for more than 400 years.

‘They are thriving here at Heligan’

Toby Davies, wildlife coordinator at The Lost Gardens of Heligan, said:

“The fact that our beavers have bred has shown how they are thriving here at Heligan. The signs were looking good for a number of months and, in the future, we look forward to our kits being introduced elsewhere in the country as part of the reintroduction programme.”

Laura Chesterfield, managing director at Heligan, added:

“This is an amazing moment for the Heligan beaver reintroduction and we’re incredibly proud to be playing a key part in hopefully re-establishing this important species in the UK.

Enhancing the biodiversity of the Heligan estate and the environment beyond is fundamental to our mission and the success of the beaver reintroduction is testament to the fine work being done by our teams.”

Why it matters

Beavers are considered a keystone species, known to play a key role in shaping ecosystems. Their presence at Heligan is being closely monitored to understand their effect on biodiversity, flood risk, and farmland, including areas with grazing livestock.

Heligan is one of the first sites in England where a reintroduction programme has deliberately included farmland. The data being collected could influence whether free-roaming beavers are allowed to return to the wild without licences in future.

New legal protections for wild-living beavers were introduced in England in October 2022, giving added significance to the findings from projects like Heligan’s.

Working together to bring them back

The Lost Gardens of Heligan have collaborated with The Welsh Beaver Project, Beaver Trust and Natural England on the reintroduction.

In addition to the beavers, Heligan has also welcomed water voles and glow-worms to the estate and is planning a red squirrel reintroduction.

The kits have already been photographed by wildlife photographer Andy Wilson, who is also Heligan’s head of restoration. His exhibition 200 Acres, showcasing wildlife photography taken on the estate, is on display on the west lawn until 30th September.