For centuries, beavers would have played a crucial role in our wetland landscapes here in Cornwall. As natural engineers, they are recognised for providing significant benefits to both people and wildlife, but were hunted to extinction over 400 years ago, primarily for their fur.

Now, Cornwall Wildlife Trust is launching a bold new appeal to return beavers to the wild once more. Following the news earlier this year that the UK Government is accepting applications for licensed wild releases of beavers in England, Cornwall Wildlife Trust has been finalising its ambitious application, the culmination of many years of work.

Lauren Jasper, Beaver Officer at Cornwall Wildlife Trust, said:

“We’ve spent years preparing for this moment, not only learning from existing beaver projects but also engaging closely with local communities, landowners, fisheries, recreational river users, and environmental bodies. Beavers can bring immense benefits to our landscape: from reducing flood risk to creating habitats for species like water voles, dragonflies, and otters. This next step is both exciting and essential.”

Today, Cornwall’s wetlands have declined more than any other habitat, now covering just 1.8% of the county. Beavers can transform landscapes and benefit all kinds of species by creating bigger, better, and more connected wetlands for wildlife.

Cornwall Wildlife Trust’s application has been shaped by extensive public engagement and ecological assessments and is on track to be one of the first licensed wild releases in England. The project includes plans to carefully monitor the released animals and to support Cornwall’s transition to living alongside beavers. The charity is now calling on public support to help raise the funds needed to establish and monitor the project over the next 10 years.

Cheryl Marriott, Director of Nature and People at Cornwall Wildlife Trust, said:

“Beavers are a missing piece of our ecosystem, and we have the chance to put them back where they belong. This isn’t just about one species, it’s about transforming degraded wetlands into vibrant, nature-rich landscapes. We’re so proud of how far this project has come, and now we’re asking the people of Cornwall to make history with us.”

Cornwall Wildlife Trust has already had support from the local business community, with long-term partner St Eval instrumental in launching the Trust’s beaver work and continuing to champion the project.

Ian Greaves, Chief Executive Officer at St Eval, said:

"We are immensely proud of our partnership with Cornwall Wildlife Trust, which allowed us to kickstart the wild beaver project by underwriting initial costs. This financial backing has empowered the Trust to move forward confidently, laying the groundwork for a successful reintroduction programme centred around Helman Tor. It is wonderful that our support has been pivotal in reaching this significant milestone, and now it’s vital that others join us in supporting the appeal."

With biodiversity in steep decline and the impacts of climate change increasing, Cornwall Wildlife Trust believes that beavers could play a transformative role in Cornwall’s environmental recovery by restoring natural processes, supporting native wildlife, and building a more resilient landscape for future generations.