Ennerdale’s beaver journey
Since 2019 we have aspired to release beavers into the Ennerdale valley in Cumbria.
Early plans for a partial beaver enclosure were paused in October 2023 because there were concerns about the proposed metal grill across the lower River Liza and its potential to deter salmon and trout from passing to their spawning grounds upstream.
A beaver release directly into the wild was not an available option at that time.
Following an invitation for Expressions of Interest (EOIs) from Natural England, Forestry England submitted an outline proposal for a wild beaver release into Ennerdale with support from other Wild Ennerdale partnership organisations (National Trust, United Utilities and Natural England) on 1 May 2025.
We were one of 39 Expressions of Interest submitted to Natural England. Nine projects, all in the south-west or south-east of England, were invited to submit a full application. Seven projects were advised that their proposals were unlikely to meet the wild release criteria. The remaining 23 expressions of interest, including ours, were asked to provide more information and make some changes. We submitted this additional information on 28 November 2025.
Read our original Expression of Interest HERE.
Read the additional information we submitted HERE.
New opportunities for free-living beavers in Ennerdale and the River Ehen and Calder catchments
On 23 December 2025 we received the news that our Expression of Interest to release beavers into the wild was successful and we were invited to prepare a full application.
Now, the work to discuss our proposals, engage with those likely to be affected and prepare our application can begin.
We have made some changes since our Expression of Interest in May 2025. What does our current proposal include?
Genetic diversity: We propose to release 30 adult beavers (likely as 15 pairs) with any additional dependent kits or sub-adults in their family groups. The total number of beavers could be up to 50.
Identified release sites: We aim to connect with supportive landowners to secure 20 release sites. These are more sites than we may need to allow flexibility if sites are occupied early or become unavailable or if problem animals need to be translocated.
Accelerated timescales: We propose to release five pairs/family groups each year during the first three years of the project.
Thinking beyond Ennerdale: We have reinforced our commitment to working with representatives from throughout the Ehen-Calder catchments as we prepare our application.
Beavers would be here to stay: We have removed the option to trap and fully remove all beavers from the catchment if beaver management becomes unsustainable. Beavers are now a protected species in England and whilst individuals can be removed from specific areas, whole populations cannot.
A long-term commitment: We have funded a permanent role to develop and lead sustainable beaver management in the Ehen-Calder catchment and work with others who are interested in releasing wild beavers in Cumbria.
Delayed arrival: Our initial timeline hoped to release the first beavers in September 2026. It has taken six additional months for our Expression of Interest to be invited to proceed. If a licence is received, we would aim to introduce beavers from September 2027.
What will happen next?
In the coming months we will form our project steering group, identify key issues and divide into smaller working groups to find resolutions. There will be opportunities to learn more about beavers and our project, to share your thoughts and get involved.
We will aim to submit our application by late 2026. Natural England may take up to four months to assess our application.
Share your thoughts
Each catchment and each property will experience beavers differently. Help us develop a comprehensive, site-specific management plan that is practical and relevant to the River Ehen catchment.
- Do you own, live on, work on, or spend your free time on land in the River Ehen catchment with a river, stream or ditch that might be affected by beavers?
- Are there areas on your property where you would welcome beavers?
- Do you have infrastructure, vegetation, land use or activities that could be impacted by beavers?
There will be more opportunities to get involved in the coming months, with multiple ways of sharing your opinions and thoughts.
If you have anything you would like to share right now, you can contact us HERE. The points you raise will inform the next steps in our engagement.
Further information
The government announced a two-step licensing process to allow beavers to be released into the wild on 28 February 2025.
Step 1: Expression of interest
The expression of interest requires a high-level statement against each of the nine wild release criteria (available at Beavers: criteria for wild release - GOV.UK).
This process avoids applicants, Natural England and other stakeholders investing time on full applications that are unlikely to secure a licence in the first round of applications.
Step 2: Licence application
Only those projects deemed most viable will be invited to make a full application. This will help manage beaver reintroductions at a measured pace.
Contact us
Hayley Dauben, Species Reintroduction Project Officer, 07425 732 513.
ehencalderbeavers@forestryengland.uk
Forestry England, Peil Wyke, Cockermouth CA13 9YG