A crowdfunding campaign has been launched to raise £10,000 to cover some funding gaps ahead of bringing back beavers to the borough for the first time in over 400 years.
The Ealing Beaver Project said it is set to reintroduce Eurasian beavers in the autumn at Paradise Fields in Greenford and as early as mid-October.
The project, a collaboration between Ealing Wildlife Group, Citizen Zoo, Friends of Horsenden Hill and Ealing Council with support from Beaver Trust and Mayor of London, will allow residents, landowners and other stakeholders to learn how to live alongside the beavers in a controlled enclosed trial at first.
It is being led by Dr Sean McCormack, vet and chair of Ealing Wildlife Group who is also the licence applicant.
Speaking to EALING.NEWS Dr McCormack said: “We’re on the final stretch in the lead up to beaver reintroduction in Ealing, and we’d love a little help from the community to really make the project sing. We have a beautiful mural in the design stages and would love to provide some interactive, interpretive signage to share the benefits beavers bring to people, planet and biodiversity.”
Dr McCormack added: “Any donation, no matter the size will help us do this exciting project justice. And we look forward to showing everyone around once the beavers have had time to settle in after their arrival in October.”
As well as the mural, the crowdfunding appeal will also be used for signage across Paradise Fields which will include interactive learning opportunities, fixed point photography stations so the public can document changes to the site over time and dynamic information points using QR codes. The funds will also allow for a secure lock up storage facility to be put on the site for the storing of educational and ecological equipment and other essential items.
Experts say having beavers back in Ealing will be good for the environment. Among the benefits of a local beaver population is they help reduce flood risk by slowing water flow in times of high rainfall and mitigate drought by holding more water on the land.
Earlier this year when the project was announced, Central Greenford Councillor Dr Aysha Raza said: “Greenford residents are delighted to be welcoming beavers to our area. This project gives us the unique opportunity to see rewilding in action up close.”
Dr Raza added: “I’m most excited about the improvements to the local flooding problems which impact many people. Hopefully we can prove that there are effective natural solutions to problems that would otherwise need invasive and expensive interventions, and we hope to show other urban areas the way forward.”
Elliot Newton, co-founder of Citizen Zoo commented: “We are hoping to challenge perceptions, and demonstrate how London too, can embrace these ecosystem engineers as we strive for a healthier, wilder future in which our Capital can become a leader in urban rewilding. Which will greatly benefit not only wildlife populations but local communities too.”
Head of Restoration at Beaver Trust, Dr Roisín Campbell-Palmer added: “Now that beavers are back in Britain, learning to coexist with them is fundamental to the species’ successful restoration. We look forward to continuing to support the team to make the most of this superbly located site.”
To support the crowdfunding campaign, click here.
