The Enfield beaver family has a little more room to roam and a brand-new baby kit to celebrate, thanks to a newly expanded enclosure at Archers Wood, Forty Hall.
The extension to the beaver enclosure marks a significant step forward for urban rewilding in the capital.
The project, a partnership between Enfield Council and Capel Manor College, was part-funded by a £50,000 grant from the Mayor of London.
It has expanded the size of the original enclosure by 1 hectare, about the size of a rugby field. The extra space will benefit the growing beaver family, who are playing a key role in natural flood management and improved wildlife habitats. This milestone comes just weeks after the arrival of a new baby beaver, known as a kit, bringing the total number of animals in the enclosure to eight.
The growing family is a clear sign that the beavers are thriving in their Enfield home, with signs of dam-building, coppicing, and increased biodiversity across the site.
Visitors can now explore the area more easily with new footpaths linking to a signposted beaver trail and a raised viewing platform. For the first time, Enfield Council and Forty Hall Farm will also host guided tours of the enclosure, led by the expert team working on-site. These educational tours offer a rare chance to learn more about the beavers’ behaviour, their ecological impact and the broader goals of the College, Forty Hall Farm and the Enfield Chase Restoration Project.
A limited number of free public tours are available to book now via TicketSource. These will take place during Forty Hall Farm’s farmers market on Sunday, 13 July. Paid tours will launch at the end of the month, offering regular opportunities to connect with one of London’s most exciting rewilding stories.
Cllr Tim Leaver, Deputy Leader of Enfield Council, said:
“We’re pleased to see the beaver family doing so well, and even more excited to be able to welcome the public into the heart of the enclosure. This expansion supports our wider ambitions for nature recovery and sustainable flood management across the borough.”
Peter Brammall, Principal and CEO of Capel Manor College, said:
“Seeing the beaver family thriving here in Enfield is incredibly inspiring. For our students, staff, and visitors, it shows how rewilding projects can transform landscapes, enrich education, and reconnect people with nature right on their doorstep.”
This project forms part of the Enfield Chase Landscape Restoration initiative, one of the largest rewilding programmes in London, reconnecting communities with nature and helping combat the effects of climate change.
Wach our video explaining more about the project, below.
Images of the new enclosure and beaver trail features
Cllr Tim Leaver studies signage along the beaver trail
Three people follow the beaver trail.
Cllr Tim Leaver and Meg Wilson stand infront of the new beaver pond
Three people gaze out from the beaver viewing platform over the enclosure
