Londoners who struggled to get to work due to persistent flooding at a northwest London Tube station have been rescued by an unlikely group of heroes: beavers. The industrious rodents, reintroduced to Ealing three years ago, have effectively 'bailed out' the area with their dam-building expertise, ending flooding issues at the nearby Underground station.
Metro visited Paradise Fields, where eight beavers now reside, to witness how their efforts are transforming the lives of local residents. The project, run by a team of ecologists, has seen the rare creatures thrive. Team member Seniz Mustafa explained that the dams built by the beavers have halted the flow of water downstream, preventing flooding at Greenford station and nearby homes. She noted that the community is 'so happy' with the beavers, who have become local celebrities.
The beaver colony, led by a mother named Willow, can occasionally be spotted from a purpose-built viewing platform. The park also features informational placards about the animals. During Metro's visit, no beavers were sighted, but evidence of their work was unmistakable. Residents reported that flooding, which previously disrupted daily life and made roads impassable, is now a thing of the past.
Sameer Souza, 51, who lives on Uneeda Avenue opposite Greenford station, said: 'The flooding has been bad in this area and sometimes the tube has been closed because of it. It was causing big problems getting to work, et cetera. It's amazing that nature has come to the rescue.'
Linda Miles, 48, added: 'I read all about it when the beavers were put here, but I had no idea they would be the solution to all our flooding. People need to think more about nature and the environment and how important it is. We have had massive problems with flooding here so thank you to our beaver friends. We have had nightmares with flooding in the past.'
Ian Bezzant, 68, commented: 'If it's working then many thanks to the beavers because the station has flooded a lot.'
Historical context and broader impact
Beavers were reintroduced in Ealing and Enfield in 2023, and a new project to bring them to Croydon is planned for 2028, backed by City Hall and local councils. Prior to this, beavers had been hunted to extinction in the capital 400 years ago for their fur and meat. The Ealing project was featured by David Attenborough on his Wild London BBC documentary, where he remarked: 'If someone had told me when I first moved here that one day I would have been watching wild beavers in London, I would have thought they were mad. The whole wetland has been brought back to life, and it can now retain a lot more water. Incredibly, for the first time in a decade, residential areas downstream have been flood-free.'
The introduction of beavers has also boosted biodiversity, attracting more bats, insects, and birds. Dominic Moffitt, Ealing's cabinet member for climate action, stated: 'This project shows how working with nature can improve our resilience and help us respond to the growing challenges of climate change. By supporting the reintroduction of beavers at Paradise Fields, we have enabled a natural solution that is slowing the flow of water, reducing flood risk for local communities and improving biodiversity at the same time. This delivers lasting benefits for Ealing residents.'
A spokesman for the London mayor added: 'It is fantastic to see the Ealing Beavers thriving in their new home. Nature is more than just something we visit. It's part of how London works and beavers play an important role in supporting local habitats. It's incredible that in a few short years they have helped stop flooding at a local station and transformed Paradise Fields into a flourishing wetland and helped to improve biodiversity in the area.'
