A group of helpful beavers have saved London residents from a flooding issue that has plagued the area since the 1970s. Residents of Greenford, Ealing, were often unable to reach the local Tube station during heavy rainfall. The council had attempted expensive interventions, but the solution turned out to be reintroducing beavers to the area.
Beaver reintroduction project
Three years ago, five beavers were released in Paradise Fields. Since then, they have built several dams, acting as 'ecosystem engineers' to stem water flow and create wetlands that store large volumes of water. Greenford’s newest residents have also become a tourist attraction, with urban beaver officer Seniz Mustafa noting that locals are 'so happy.'
She told the Independent: 'The community of Greenford was greatly affected by [flooding], and 2024 was the first year the local area didn’t flood. It’s not just people trying to get to the Tube, but it’s people in their houses, going to work, going to school, trying to drive their car, so it’s had such a direct impact.'
It is believed there are at least eight beavers now living in the park, although Seniz suspects the mother, Willow, may have had more kits. This is not the only beaver project in the city; another was set up in Enfield the same year.
Historical context
The project marks the first time in 400 years that beavers have been in London, after they were hunted to near extinction for their fur and scent glands. By the turn of the 20th century, only around 1,200 beavers remained in Europe, with none recorded in the UK.
In 2019, Scottish beavers were given protected status, following reintroduction attempts in the late 2000s. In 2022, England’s beavers also gained protection. There are plans for a similar project in Croydon, on track for 2028.
Environmental impact
Ealing’s beaver family gained fame after being featured in David Attenborough’s Wild London documentary. '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,' he said in the BBC film. '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.'
Their tree felling has also allowed more sunlight into the area surrounding the brook, resulting in an increase in fish and a boom in local wildlife.
Dominic Moffitt, Ealing Council’s cabinet member for climate action, said: '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.'
He called it a 'powerful example of how innovative, nature-based approaches can complement traditional flood management, deliver lasting benefits for the environment, and enable better living for Ealing residents.'
A spokesperson for the Mayor of London, Sir Sadiq Khan, said: 'It’s 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 only a few short years they have helped stop flooding at a local station, transformed Paradise Fields into a flourishing wetland and helped to improve the biodiversity of the area.'
