Beavers return after 400 years

Beavers are being brought back to a county for the first time in 400 years.

The pair are being released as the cornerstone of a conservation project on an estate that once belonged to the Duke of Wellington.

The 925-acre Ewhurst Park near Basingstoke in Hampshire now belongs to model, entrepreneur and environmentalist Mandy Lieu.

The dams of beavers, who were hunted to extinction in Britain in the 16th century, create natural wetlands and water meadows that support a variety of wildlife.

Ms Lieu said: “It has been very rewarding learning about what they need, how they will impact the environment and the benefits they will bring. These beavers are not just for Ewhurst, but for the whole community for generations to come.”

Children at 22 schools have been invited to take part in a competition to name the two beavers.*