About the event

This is a unique opportunity to visit the Nene Wetlands Nature Reserve in Northamptonshire and join a guided tour inside the beaver enclosure — an area normally closed to the general public, with organised public tours often selling out months in advance.

To celebrate the successful reintroduction of beavers in Northamptonshire, our colleagues from the Northants team are offering this one‑off experience exclusively to Luton & Bedfordshire Youth Rangers. The tour will take us into the enclosure to explore the hidden world of the resident beaver family and look for signs of their activity.
While it is unlikely that we will see the beavers themselves during the daytime, there will be plenty of evidence of their presence, including dams and gnawed trees.

Please note that this session is open only to Luton & Bedfordshire Youth Rangers aged 12–17. Places are very limited to minimise disturbance to this sensitive wetland habitat, and priority will be given to Youth Rangers who have previously attended our Bedfordshire sessions.

We encourage lift sharing where possible, particularly for those travelling from Luton or Bedfordshire who know other Youth Rangers attending this session.

About the beavers

Beavers were hunted to extinction in Northamptonshire around 400 years ago but are now back, thanks to this exciting reintroduction project in the Nene Wetlands nature reserve. Known as 'habitat engineers' because of their ability to change their environment to better suit their needs (improving it for other wildlife in the process), they have already had a significant impact within their 18 hectare enclosure. 

What to expect & what to wear

A member of our Northamptonshire team will lead a guided walk within the beaver enclosure at Nene Wetlands, Rushden. The ground is likely to be wet and uneven, and the route may include long vegetation and low‑hanging branches.

We strongly recommend wearing:

• Sturdy boots or wellies
• Long trousers and long‑sleeved tops
• And bring along waterproof clothing, just in case

If you have any accessibility concerns or questions, please contact us before the session.

What we provide

Refreshments and drinks at the end of the tour

Meeting point

Nene Wetlands Visitor Centre,
The Boardwalk, Rushden Lakes,
Rushden, Northamptonshire, NN10 6FA
Please note, there is 5 hours free parking at Rushden Lakes Shopping Centre. 

From here, we’ll take part in a 2‑hour guided walk, followed by refreshments, finishing at 1:30 pm.

Time

11:00 am – 1:30 pm

Our staff will be on hand throughout the session. Please contact us in advance if you have any questions.

* First‑time attendees: If you have not attended a Youth Ranger session before, a parental permission form must be completed before your free ticket can be confirmed. Please contact Ieva to receive the online form: ieva.piraga@wildlifebcn.org. Priority will still be given to Youth Rangers who have previously attended sessions.

** Weather notice: In cases of extreme weather, such as heavy downpours, the session may be cancelled if safety or accessibility is affected. Further information will be provided if this is the case.