Enlarged enclosure and viewing platform set to be installed at Forty Hall Farm rewilding site

A small stream flows through the enclosure which the beavers will be able to dam and create ponds — Beavers were first introduced to Enfield in spring 2022

Enfield Council’s beaver reintroduction project has been named as one of 21 rewilding projects to receive a share of £1m in new City Hall funding.

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan this week announced the latest recipients of his Rewild London Fund, intended to help to improve the environment and make the capital more resilient to climate change.

The extra £1m will brings the total investment in rewilding across London so far to over £2.4m, which includes £750,000 from Amazon’s Right Now Climate Fund.

Enfield Council plans to use its share of the cash to pay for upgrades at its beaver project in Forty Hall Farm, which is being managed by project partner Capel Manor College. This includes creating a viewing platform for visitors and expanding the current enclosure, which it says will lead to habitat improvements in the short-term – with a long-term aim to make the site a Metropolitan Site of Importance for Nature (Sinc).

The beaver reintroduction project, London’s first, began two years ago when a pair were released at Forty Hall Farm in March 2022. However, two males subsequently died after being rejected by the female, and an established pair was later brought in to replace them. This has proved more successful, with the first kit being born last year.

Other parts of the capital set to benefit from the rewilding cash include Wimbledon Common, Stanmore Common and Hackney Marshes.

Khan said: “This new rewilding funding will support the restoration of some amazing spaces in the capital, enabling Londoners to benefit from nature on their doorstep and help us to combat the impacts of climate change.

“I believe that all Londoners should be able to enjoy green spaces and that access to nature is a social justice issue. So I’m doing all I can to ensure that Londoners can enjoy wildlife wherever they are in the city.

“Once again we have worked very closely with community groups and organisations across London to find out what support they need rewild the city. By bringing back beavers, restoring river banks and proving spaces for wildlife to thrive, we are making London a greener and cleaner city for everyone whilst also making the capital more resilient to the effects of climate change.

“This is one important way we are building a better London for all.”

The mayor has asked London Wildlife Trust to act as delivery partner to take forward some of the London Rewilding Taskforce’s final recommendations, including convening a London Rewilding Action Group. This will bring together experts in nature conservation, community engagement and sustainable finance to develop one or more large-scale rewilding pilots to be delivered in London.

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