Delight as more baby beavers are born at Willington Wetlands

Conservationists say the first family of beavers to breed in Derbyshire for 800 years has grown again.

The aquatic animals were reintroduced at Willington Wetlands, near Repton, in 2021, leading to the birth of two babies in the county for the first time since the 13th Century.

Now two more babies, called kits, have expanded the family.

The Derbyshire Wildlife Trust said it was thrilled to see more of the dam-building creatures.

Henry Richards, from the trust, said the beavers would play a crucial role in improving the environment in the Trent Valley, helping to prevent flooding in the long-term.

"The beaver reintroduction programme only started two years ago, but thanks to the hard work of volunteers, staff and partners, this family of beavers has a resilient environment in which to thrive," he said.

"By reintroducing beavers and keeping human impact low, Willington has become a mosaic of prime wetland habitats creating an important sanctuary for wildlife.

"The beavers have shaped and improved the site in ways that we couldn't have imagined by coppicing trees and shrub species, damming smaller water courses, and digging the start of 'beaver canal' systems."

He said the beavers' activities had been instrumental in creating a better habitat for other wildlife including otters, water voles, kingfisher, egret, and bittern.

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