The plan to bring beavers back to rivers across Cornwall

They have been absent from Cornwall’s rivers for centuries. A new fundraising campaign wants to bring them back to every major catchment in the county.

A plan for every major river

A new fundraising initiative led by Cornwall The Bigger Picture, in partnership with The Cornwall Beaver Project, is supporting efforts to restore beavers to Cornwall’s rivers and wetlands. The animals are described by experts as one of nature’s most powerful ecosystem engineers.

The campaign is raising money to apply for licences covering all of Cornwall’s major rivers, paving the way for the species to return to suitable locations across the county from early 2028.

What it takes to bring them back

Whilst the UK Government has protected beavers as a native species, a licence is still required to release them into the wild. Securing one takes extensive preparation, including habitat mapping, ecological surveys and stakeholder engagement.

The campaign aims to raise both awareness and the funding needed to carry out that work.

Guardians of water

Yan Swiderski, from Cornwall The Bigger Picture, explained why the animals matter so much to the health of a river system.

“Beavers are often referred to as ‘Guardians of Water’ as they play a vital role in creating healthy wetland ecosystems. They bring wonderful benefits including building dams that create wetlands which improve water quality, support wildlife and help landscapes become more resilient to drought, fire and floods.”

As well as creating wildlife-rich habitats, beaver dams act as natural filters, trapping sediment and helping to improve water quality downstream.

Chris Jones, also from Cornwall The Bigger Picture, said the return of the species would mark a turning point for the county.

“The return of beavers will represent one of the most significant conservation achievements in Cornwall’s history. By supporting their return, we’re not just bringing back an animal, we’re helping restore the natural processes that create healthier rivers, richer wildlife habitats and more resilient landscapes.”

How to get involved

The fundraising campaign forms part of Cornwall The Bigger Picture’s wider mission to support nature recovery across the county and inspire people to reconnect with the natural world.

Supporters can donate, or volunteer their time and skills to help make the return of beavers a reality. To find out more or to donate, visit www.cornwallthebiggerpicture.org.

The work so far

Cornwall The Bigger Picture is a partnership between The Cornwall Beaver Project and The Cornwall Stork Project, with technical support from Cornwall Wildlife Trust, set up to restore Eurasian beavers to Cornish waterways.

Cornwall Wildlife Trust obtained the first wild release licence in Cornwall and has begun releasing beaver families in the Par and Fowey catchments. Cornwall The Bigger Picture is building on that work to apply for a wild release licence covering the whole county.