Looking back on 12 months since a family of eight beavers were released into Delta Pit lake at the Nene Wetlands Nature Reserve, conservationists have hailed their impact. As well as producing two more kits, the pair Boudica and Alan and their youngsters have begun managing the wet woodland around the water, opening up the space and creating the ideal conditions for birds, bats and insects to thrive.

Beaver project officer Ben Casey said:  "After 18 months of challenges and setbacks leading up to our release day on 13th February 2025, the past year has been a genuine privilege to watch as the family expand, grow, and begin to change the structure of Delta Pit. 

“Before the beavers were relocated from Scotland to the Nene Wetlands the wooded area around the lake was dense, difficult to access and not providing the best habitat for a range of species. One year on and we can confidently say they are making a big difference. 

“It has been amazing to see a passion for the beavers flourish in our staff, volunteers, and visitors, with continued public support, and a never-ending interest in their latest activity. A massive thank you to all involved across the team and to all those who have supported the project along the way. We can’t wait to see what they get up to in 2026!”

In areas reserve staff were not previously able access, the beavers have been removing some of the trees, coppicing others, creating channels and bringing much needed diversity to the site. 

With open areas, trees of varied height, and channels carved through reedbeds, there is now improved light penetration, nesting habitat, and insect spawning grounds. The team are now looking forward to seeing how this translates to the species monitoring data that is being collected.

Some of the stats from the first year include,

• 3 large trees felled and 30 coppiced by the beavers
• 3 lodges built
• 2 kits born
• 400 people attended guided walks
• 236 Adopt a Beaver packs bought
• 104 fence checks by the team equivalent to 176.8 km of walking - the same distance as walking to central London and back
• More than 100m of beaver canals created

The family of eight were translocated and released by experts at Beaver Trust from a site in Scotland in February 2025. The Wildlife Trust team spent four years planning the project and creating the 17-hectare fenced enclosure.

The project has been supported by Anglian Water through its Get River Positive fund.

The family matriarch Boudica is missing a leg which is believed to have been lost in a fight and the male adult was named Alan by Wildlife Trust staff in honour of comedian Alan Carr who grew up in Northamptonshire. Two more kits were born on the site during the year and all the young were named by local wildlife enthusiasts Alfie and Elsie Kean, age 11 and 9, following a public vote. The names chosen were: Willow, Pine, Juniper, Hazel, Rowan, Holly, Ash and Maple.