After four centuries of extinction, beavers have finally returned to the waters of London. As part of the rewilding movement, which is painting London green, the borough of Enfield has seen a male and female beaver introduced to a local nature area, Forty Hall Farm. The residents of the local area will also get to decide the names of these beavers, which have been given placeholder names of Justin Beaver and Sigourney Beaver. Council leaders are also very much on board, with the deputy leader of Enfield Council, Ian Barnes, calling the moment they were released ‘quite emotional’. Schemes similar to this have become more common recently, with a ‘superbloom’ of wildflowers surrounding the Tower of London to promote wildlife and nature across London and to commemorate the Platinum Jubilee of the Queen. In nearby Kent, bison are to be introduced soon to Blean Woods, where their effect on the local environment will be tested. Beavers could also come to different parts of London, with reintroduction also being considered for areas of west London. All these projects enrich natural ecosystems in the economic heart of the country and bring us all closer to nature in the urban sprawl of southeast England.
https://www.guardian-series.co.uk/news/20036708.beavers-back-london/
