Beavers return to London after 400 years – and solve major flooding problem

Environment
16 Jun 2026 • 5:56 PM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

The world’s most free-thinking newspaper

Beavers return to London after 400 years – and solve major flooding problem

  • The reintroduction of beavers in Paradise Fields, Ealing, has successfully resolved a decades-old flooding problem affecting homes and a Tube station in northwest London.
  • Five beavers were introduced in October 2023, and within a year, they constructed a complex wetland system with at least five dams, acting as a natural flood defence.
  • Urban beaver officer Seniz Mustafa confirmed that 2024 was the first year the local area did not flood.
  • The project, which has seen the beaver population grow to at least eight, marks the first time these creatures have been in London for approximately 400 years.
  • Beyond flood mitigation, the beavers' activities have improved water quality, increased biodiversity, and attracted the attention of naturalists like Sir David Attenborough and the Mayor of London.

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