Cumbria Beaver Group has announced that two kits were born in May or June to their Eurasian beaver parents, Glen and Dragonfly.

It is thought to be the first time the animals have bred successfully, to the delight of conservationists around the county. Cumbria Beaver Group has waited for the young family to establish itself and to ensure the kits were thriving before released footage of them taken on camera traps.

Elizabeth Ogilvie, ecologist at The Lowther Estate said the adult beavers had developed their ‘lodge’ and expanded their ponds, creating wetland in the grassland part of the enclosure.

“It has been a joy to watch the beaver kits through the trail cameras this summer,” she said, adding that other wildlife had benefited from the beavers’ activity.

“Careful grazing with water buffalo, keeping the grass short, maintaining damp flushes and muddy edges has also helped to foster a perfect habitat for lapwing who have bred in the area for the first time, alongside families of mallards, moorhens and greylags. In addition, we have spotted a number of bats on the trail cameras feeding on insects above the pools. None of this would have taken place if the beavers had not created the wetland habitat.”

David Harpley, chair of Cumbria Beaver Group, said: “We’re delighted that the Lowther beavers have bred successfully this year and are rearing two kits, who seem to be doing very well.

The beaver enclosure at the Lowther Estate Image: Mark Williamson PhotographyThe beaver enclosure at the Lowther Estate Image: Mark Williamson Photography “Since arriving at Lowther in 2020, beavers have been bringing a whole host of benefits to the wetland landscape. As well as helping biodiversity, people benefit from these ecosystem engineers too: by holding water back in the landscape, they reduce the risk of flooding downstream.

“Back in 2022 we welcomed the news that beavers in England will be given the protection they need and deserve through legislation. However, we’re still waiting for the Government to put in place the steps needed for their return, such as licences for beavers to be returned to the wild in England and the publishing of strategic plans to enable beavers to be reintroduced.”

The beavers are in a fenced-in enclosure on the Lowther Estate and cannot be visited by members of the public. Film of them can, however, be seen on the Lowther channel @lowthercastle7007 at youtube.com.