After 400 years, baby beavers make a home in Ewhurst Park country estate

The pitter patter of tiny feet … and teeth … has been hailed as a step forward for a rewilding project in North Hampshire.

For the first time since the 17th century, baby beavers can be found in Ewhurst Park, marking the next step for the historic estate.

In January last year, the team at the 925-acre countryside venue released Chompy and Hazel into an enclosure in the park – the first wild beavers in Hampshire for 400 years.

It was hoped they would flourish and lead to other ecosystem enhancements as they build dams and fell trees, creating habitats and resources for insects, fish, plants and bats, while also mitigating flooding risks.

The discovery of the kits delighted Ewhurst Park’s head of ecology management Fiona Kenny, who said she heard “a distinctive sploshing sound” which turned out to be a baby beaver splashing in the water.

“It was an incredible moment,” she said.

This was echoed by Mandy Lieu, the director of the park situated off Rasmdell.

“The arrival of kits is yet another very exciting moment in Ewhurst Park’s nature restoration journey, with many more yet to come,” she said.

“The beavers’ modifications to the landscape through damming and tree felling have been extraordinary.

“We have already recorded many important species in the enclosure including very rare barbastelle bats.”

The kits will become part of a studbook that The Beaver Trust to monitor beavers across England and boost their currently small and scatted populations.

Its head of restoration, Dr Roisin Campbell-Palmer, said the news of the breeding was “delightful”.

“We are working towards restoring beavers to the wild in England, with appropriate licensing and management frameworks,” she said.

“Enclosures such as the one here at Ewhurst Park continue to play an important part of the restoration story.”