Beavers Re-introduced to Boothby Wildland - creating first ever beaver-created watercourse BNG units.

The Boothby team and volunteers releasing the beavers

●       A family of beavers from Scotland have been released to our 200ha enclosure in Lincolnshire

●       The beavers, facilitated by Beaver Trust, will re-establish natural processes, restoring nature and creating social benefits

●       This marks the creation of the world’s first beaver-created Biodiversity Net Gain Units, which are now available on the National Register 

This week, our delighted team welcomed a family of beavers to Boothby Wildland in Lincolnshire, launching England’s first ever beaver-created watercourse Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) units.

Boothby Wildland, purchased by Nattergal in 2021, has completed a three-year transition away from arable farming on Grade-3 soils and is now letting nature take the lead.

The release of the beavers, facilitated by Beaver Trust, into a 200ha enclosure at Boothby Wildland will enable the animals to re-establish dynamic natural processes over a meaningfully large area, generating a wealth of environmental and societal benefits.

As a result, over 10 units of high-integrity watercourse BNG units have now been added to the National Register, created in part by the natural behaviours of these amazing animals. 

The beavers settled in quickly

Ecosystem engineers

Beavers are “ecosystem engineers”, renowned for their ability to re-shape waterways, create wetlands, and slow the flow of water. Their dams help alleviate flooding by slowing peak water flow and create wetland habitats that attract a wide range of wildlife — from amphibians and birds to invertebrates and plants.

Their re-introduction is a key element in Boothby’s efforts to “re-wiggle” the historically straightened and deepened West Glen River, which had previously been modified to remove water quickly from surrounding farmland. Restoring the river’s natural hydrology is expected to help increase water retention on site, support the development of species-rich wetland habitats, and help mitigate problematic local flooding.

A bird’s eye view of the beavers exploring their new home

Extensive preparations

Boothby’s on-site team have undertaken extensive research, training, and certification, completed the installation of over 6,000m of bespoke fencing, carried out habitat readiness assessments, and captured two years of baseline environmental monitoring to help track ecosystem recovery over time.

The enclosure and release were also guided by a feasibility study conducted by Beaver Trust, assessing habitat suitability, hydrology, and long-term management considerations.

Community volunteers have played an essential role, helping with willow whip planting, maintaining monitoring equipment, and supporting the infrastructure needed for the UK’s most ambitious beaver enclosure.

The project builds on extensive community engagement, including early in-person and online consultations and monthly walk-and-talk events, ensuring local voices are part of Boothby’s evolving story.

Nature Minister, Mary Creagh, said: "Beavers are nature’s engineers and bring extraordinary benefits to our landscapes. Their historic return to the wild is a key part of our mission to protect and restore nature. This release at Boothby Wildland is a great example of public and private funding working hand-in-hand to restore our landscapes and bring nature back."

Nattergal Chief Commercial Officer, Claire Traynor, said: “Our beaver-created biodiversity units show how Biodiversity Net Gain can enable complex, large-scale nature restoration with measurable, long-term benefits. By integrating beavers into Boothby, we are delivering high-integrity BNG units that restore natural processes, enhance biodiversity, and provide lasting ecological value.”

Dr Roisin Campbell-Palmer, Head of Restoration at Beaver Trust, says: “Our feasibility assessment showed that Boothby Wildland has the space, hydrology and long-term management commitment needed to support beavers successfully. Working with the Nattergal team and seeing that groundwork translate into this release is a great moment for this nature restoration project.”

For further information on BNG or to reserve BNG units, contact BNG@nattergal.com.

Public tours of the beaver enclosure begin in Spring 2026. Tickets are available now at www.boothbywildland.com.