{"id":38648,"date":"2024-07-12T14:21:33","date_gmt":"2024-07-12T12:21:33","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/11bd4742-7270-4d54-84a9-884c7c31e325"},"modified":"2024-07-12T15:26:40","modified_gmt":"2024-07-12T13:26:40","slug":"first-beaver-kit-born-in-northumberland-for-over-400-years","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbccountryfile\/rss_feed\/first-beaver-kit-born-in-northumberland-for-over-400-years\/","title":{"rendered":"First beaver kit born in Northumberland for over 400 years"},"content":{"rendered":"

Camera trap footage shows a newborn beaver and its family exploring Wallington Estate in north-east England. <\/p>

By <\/p>

Published: Friday, 12 July 2024 at 12:21 PM<\/p>

\n\n

Rangers at Wallington Estate<\/a> are celebrating the birth of a baby beaver, the first in Northumberland for over 400 years.<\/strong><\/p>

The kit arrives less than a year after a family of Eurasian beavers<\/a> were released on the 5,431-hectare National Trust estate in north-east England.<\/p>

Camera trap footage shows the young beaver, thought to have been born in late May, exploring the wetland habitat with its family.<\/p>

Beaver cam: footage shows the kit chomping on grass. Credit: National Trust Images, Wallington<\/figcaption><\/figure>
<\/storefront-element><\/p>
Beavers have been recruited to reduce flooding in an ancient English village<\/a><\/li>
Three adorable baby beavers born on Norfolk nature reserve<\/a><\/li><\/ul>
Once a common sight across much of Britain, beavers were hunted to extinction during the 16th century. In recent years, there has been a push to re-establish populations across the UK, including at Wallington, where a family of beavers were released last year. <\/p>
Beavers can help restore \u2018at risk\u2019 habitats and benefit nature to help tackle declines in biodiversity and the climate crisis through the creation of wetlands.<\/p>
Beaver cam: the kit heading back into the family lodge with its mother and taking a dip in the river. Credit: National Trust Images, Wallington<\/figcaption><\/figure>
Since their release, this family of ‘ecosystem engineers’ have helped attract kingfishers<\/a> and Daubenton\u2019s bats<\/a> to the river, whilst also benefitting declining native white-clawed crayfish<\/a>, says the National Trust, the wildlife charity who look after Wallington Estate. <\/p>
\u201cSince welcoming the family of beavers to Wallington the resulting impact on the water environment has been nothing short of astonishing,” said Paul Hewitt, Countryside Manager for the National Trust at Wallington. <\/p>
\u201cAs a keystone species we have watched with keen interest as beavers do what beavers do, expertly altering their river environment to the massive benefit of other species. With the development of dams, we are starting to see the benefits of beavers in slowing water flows and making the flood plain more resilient to future climate change.”<\/p>
Footage of beavers released on 12 July 2023 at Wallington Estate, Northumberland. Credit: National Trust, Alex Harrison<\/figcaption><\/figure>
The beavers have built dynamic systems of dams, canals and burrows, which slow the flow of water through the enclosure. This slowing creates ponds, pools and mudscapes \u2013 a rich wetland habitat that is already having a significant impact on biodiversity along the river.<\/p>
There has been a noticeable increase in resident trout, says the National Trust, along with more regular visits from kingfishers and grey herons, which feed in the newly formed pools and ponds.<\/p>
The organic matter that builds up behind the dams attracts large numbers of insects, including mayflies and caddisflies, which in turn proved a rich food source for Daubenton\u2019s bats \u2013 which have been spotted in greater numbers foraging across the slow-moving water.<\/p>
The increase in water levels has also left tree roots submerged, a habitat favoured by native but very rare white-clawed crayfish.<\/p>
Beaver kit and adult beaver swimming. Credit: National Trust Images, Wallington<\/figcaption><\/figure>
The changes to the landscape in just 12 months are “astonishing”<\/span>, say the National Trust team, who are hopeful that the family’s new addition will further enhcance the diversity of the river corridor. <\/p>
Wallington’s beavers are looked after by a team of over 25 National Trust volunteers, who work alongside the ranger team, checking fences and monitoring the wellbeing of the animals.<\/p>
\u201cWe are thrilled that after an absence of around 400 years we now have beavers back and breeding at Wallington,” said Helen McDonald, the National Trust\u2019s Lead Ranger at Wallington.<\/p>
“They have put a lot of effort into building and maintaining their lodges and getting their family settled, showing great perseverance and resilience during their relocation and then during the floods we\u2019ve had over the last year.<\/p>
\u201cThis spring we\u2019ve had our eyes glued to trail camera footage, looking out for signs of breeding and to see whether the adult female beaver was lactating. It\u2019s such a relief that they have bred successfully and to see a new fluffy kit swimming with the family, we know now they must feel at home here at Wallington.\u00a0<\/p>
\u201cWe\u2019ll continue to monitor the family to check on their health and condition and follow the new kit\u2019s progress.\u201d<\/p>
$\"Beavers$
The beaver family being released at Wallington Estate last year. Credit: National Trust Images, Paul Harris<\/figcaption><\/figure>
The team are hopeful that the growing wetlands will see even more diverse species recorded, such as the small pearl bordered fritillary, which lay their eggs on marsh violets \u2013 a plant that could flourish on the site as the ground gets wetter.<\/p>
Beavers also play an important role in creating habitats more resilient to the effects of climate change, for example flooding events and drought<\/a>.<\/p>
\u201cAs a keystone species we have watched with keen interest as beavers do what beavers do, expertly altering their river environment to the massive benefit of other species,” says Hewitt.<\/p>
“With the development of dams, we are starting to see the benefits of beavers in slowing water flows and making the flood plain more resilient to future climate change.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>
\u201cAs a stark reminder of our changing climate, the release of the beavers here, coincided with the wettest 18-months ever recorded in England. Despite many winter storms with near record river levels recorded the beavers have continued to thrive. As their dam network continues to expand, we will see more evidence of slowing water flows and making more capacity for flood water. Now into the summer months the dammed wetlands are acting as \u201csponges\u201d slowly releasing water at a steady rate.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>
$\"Beavers$
“With the development of dams, we are starting to see the benefits of beavers in slowing water flows and making the flood plain more resilient to future climate change,” said Paul Hewitt, Countryside Manager for the National Trust at Wallington. Credit: National Trust Images, Paul Harris<\/figcaption><\/figure>
Visitor access to the beaver enclosure is carefully managed in partnership with wildlife experience providers Wild Intrigue. For details of tours and further information about the beaver family at Wallington visit\u00a0 www.nationaltrust.org.uk\/wallington<\/a>.<\/p>
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Blue animals are washing up on Guernsey\u2019s beaches. Scientists think they know why<\/a><\/li><\/ul> <\/body><\/html>\n
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