Cornwall Wildlife Trust has released a new pair of beavers into the Par and Fowey river catchment, marking an important step forward for wild beaver recovery in Cornwall. The release is part of Cornwall Wildlife Trust’s ongoing programme of fully licensed beaver releases, which aims to restore this once‑native species to rivers across the county.

The beaver pair — named Parsnip and Turnip — were released on Friday 13th February after several months preparing for life in the wild at the Cornish Seal Sanctuary. This marks the first time the Sanctuary has released a beaver pair into the wild in Cornwall.

A Carefully Matched Beaver Pair

Parsnip, a one‑year‑old female, was born in Forestry England’s Cropton Forest enclosure. After her mother died, she became vulnerable to inbreeding and was identified as a candidate for translocation. Using the Beaver Trust studbook, which helps maintain strong genetic diversity across England, Parsnip was matched with Turnip — a similar‑aged male ready to form a pair bond.

Turnip’s journey has been equally remarkable. Washed downstream during a storm and rescued at just 860g, he was taken to the Scottish SPCA’s National Wildlife Rescue Centre in Alloa in May 2024. Staff provided intensive care, hand‑rearing, and rehabilitation, encouraging natural behaviours and gradually introducing him to larger spaces and swimming opportunities. By November 2024, Turnip had grown to 10kg and was ready to move to the Cornish Seal Sanctuary.

A Sanctuary Built for Beaver Recovery

At the Cornish Seal Sanctuary, Parsnip and Turnip were introduced and quickly formed a stable pair. They lived in the Sanctuary’s four‑acre beaver enclosure — a specialised “beaver nursery” designed for young or rehabilitating beavers who need time and space to develop their natural skills before release.

The enclosure allowed them to practise dam building, foraging, burrowing, and other essential behaviours before moving into a fully wild environment.

Successful Release into the Par and Fowey Catchment

Following months of preparation, the pair were successfully released into the Par and Fowey river catchment. Cornwall Wildlife Trust will continue to monitor their progress closely, tracking how they settle, forage and shape their new habitat. The hope is that Parsnip and Turnip will establish their own territory and contribute to the long‑term recovery of beavers in Cornwall.

Why Beavers Are Returning to Cornwall

Cornwall Wildlife Trust’s beaver releases follow three years of planning and consultation ahead of the UK Government’s decision to allow wild beaver releases in England. Beavers were once widespread across Britain but were hunted to extinction around 400 years ago. Today, they are recognised as a vital keystone species whose presence benefits entire ecosystems.

At a time when one in six species in Great Britain is at risk of being lost*, beaver reintroduction is a powerful nature‑based solution for restoring wildlife and building climate resilience.

How Beavers Help Restore Nature

Beavers naturally engineer their surroundings, creating wetlands that:

• slow the flow of water and reduce downstream flooding
• help store water during dry periods, supporting drought resilience
• filter pollutants and sediments, improving water quality
• support amphibians, insects, birds, bats and more
• increase overall biodiversity and ecosystem resilience

Evidence from monitored sites shows that beaver activity can:

• triple pond and aquatic plant diversity
• increase frogspawn abundance by over 6,000%
• boost bird species and abundance up to 100m from beaver-created wetlands
• increase bat activity by almost 400%
• raise moth species diversity by 24%
• increase dragonfly species sevenfold

By releasing beavers across a wider area, Cornwall Wildlife Trust is helping to create resilient river systems while increasing genetic diversity within the beaver population — essential for the species’ long‑term survival.