\n Five beavers have been released into Bowyers Wood in East Sussex under a rewilding project led by mobile network Ecotalk with the Green Britain Foundation and Beaver Trust.\n<\/p>\n
\n One of the beavers released swimming in Bowyer Wood (Image: Ecotalk)\n<\/p>\n
\n Dale Vince, founder of Ecotalk, said: “Releasing a family of these amazing animals into our nature reserve in Sussex is a big moment and small step all at the same time.\n<\/p>\n
\n “Beavers don\u2019t just live in nature, they build it \u2013 around themselves \u2013 creating incredible habitats for all manner of other creatures \u2013 of land, water and air.”\n<\/p>\n
\n The animals were moved from a development site in Scotland and will help Bowyers Wood, until recently run as plantation woodland, return to a more natural state.\n<\/p>\n
\n The beaver family groomed each other when they got into the water (Image: Ecotalk)\n<\/p>\n
\n Chris Packham, naturalist, broadcaster and chief ecologist at Ecotalk, was present for the beavers\u2019 arrival.\n<\/p>\n
\n Mr Packham said: “I just can\u2019t remember when I was last so excited about meeting a rodent.\n<\/p>\n
\n “Big, fantastic rodents.\n<\/p>\n
\n “And it didn\u2019t disappoint.\n<\/p>\n
\n “The release went brilliantly \u2013 top work and thanks to the Beaver Trust and all the Ecotalk staff and volunteers.\n<\/p>\n
\n “Rather than sloping off down the stream they stayed and gave us a fantastic daytime show \u2014 grooming, interacting and being so cute!”\n<\/p>\n
\n Beavers, often described as “nature\u2019s engineers,” can restore wetlands, improve biodiversity, and enhance climate resilience<\/a> through natural water management.\n<\/p>\n \n Beavers became extinct in Britain around 400 years ago<\/a>.\n<\/p>\n \n Dr Roisin Campbell-Palmer, head of restoration at Beaver Trust, said: “It has been rewarding to release beavers into Bowyers Wood.\n<\/p>\n \n “As nature\u2019s engineers, beavers can play a vital role in helping to replenish landscapes, restore wetlands and support wider Green Britain ambitions for nature recovery and climate resilience.”\n<\/p>\n \n “Enclosure projects like this let people see first-hand the benefits beavers bring and build confidence that we can coexist with them.\n<\/p>\n \n At the same time, progress towards wild releases continues<\/a> with pace and ambition, so the full benefits of beaver restoration can be realised at the scale our landscapes need.\n<\/p>\n \n Ecotalk, founded in 2016 by green industrialist Dale Vince, is a SIM-only mobile network that uses its profits to restore nature.\n<\/p>\n \n The business is part of the Green Britain Group, which also includes Ecotricity, Skydiamond, and Forest Green Rovers.\n<\/p>\n \n Mr Vince said: “Beavers are the Swiss Army knife of rewilding \u2013 they create amazing habitats that will help us restore Britain\u2019s wildlife.\n<\/p>\n