Beavers return to county after 400-year absence

A family of eight beavers have been brought down from Scotland to Northamptonshire

Beavers are being reintroduced to Northamptonshire for the first time in more than 400 years.

The rodents will be housed in a 17-hectare (42 acres) fenced enclosure at Rushden Lakes, adjacent to the shopping centre.

The family of eight, including adult female Boudicca, adult male Alan, and their six young, known as kits, have been moved down from Scotland.

"I think they will settle really well here," said Matt Johnson, the conservation manager for the Wildlife Trust in Northamptonshire.

"This site was chosen because it's got an abundance of good habitat and good food for them to to forage and feed and live in.

"So I think they'll really enjoy their time here."

Beavers have been introduced in different areas of England including Suffolk and Lincolnshire.

Remarkably, beavers had not been spotted in any of these counties for four centuries.

Beavers are the second-largest rodents in the world after the Capybara

The beaver is a keystone species that can bring huge benefits to nature.

Historically, beavers were hunted to extinction for their pelts and their secret castoreum, an oil used in perfume making.

Katie King-Hurst, education and communities manager for the Wildlife Trust in Northamptonshire, said: "They're incredible.

"They change their surroundings depending on what they need rather than vice versa which is why they are so beneficial to other animals because they create other habitats that the other animals thrive in."

Cameras are situated around the enclosure to capture the impact they have around the area.

Mr Johnson added: "There's been a few beaver releases around England but these beavers share their fences with a shopping centre with millions of visitors a year so it really is an opportunity to see an inspirational species right on people's doorsteps."

Matt Johnson from the Wildlife Trust hopes eventually the beavers can live freely in the area