• Contact us
  • About us
  • Digital edition
  • Online archive
Sunday, June 8, 2025
Cumberland and Westmorland Herald
  • News
    How can businesses combat increased pressure on cashflow and profitability?

    How can businesses combat increased pressure on cashflow and profitability?

    Penrith Players present Noel Coward’s Hay Fever

    Penrith Players present Noel Coward’s Hay Fever

    Paula Roberts’ pilgrim route to raise cash for Red Cross

    Paula Roberts’ pilgrim route to raise cash for Red Cross

    Farmers flock to North Sheep

    Farmers flock to North Sheep

    Cumbrian animal charity celebrates with dog show for opening of new kennel complex

    Cumbrian animal charity celebrates with dog show for opening of new kennel complex

    Appleby Horse Fair: Several cases of animal cruelty

    Appleby Horse Fair: Several cases of animal cruelty

    Multiple fire crews tackle roof fire in Crosby Ravensworth

    Multiple fire crews tackle roof fire in Crosby Ravensworth

    Free domestic abuse support drop-in service launches in Penrith

    Free domestic abuse support drop-in service launches in Penrith

    Penrith bar relaunched with vibrant events planned

    Penrith bar relaunched with vibrant events planned

  • Sport
    Patterdale’s Eden Eagles make history

    Patterdale’s Eden Eagles make history

    Penrith teen crowned British vault champion

    Penrith teen crowned British vault champion

    Penrith gymnasts represent North of England in finals

    Penrith gymnasts represent North of England in finals

    New boss revealed for Penrith AFC

    New boss revealed for Penrith AFC

    Penrith Panthers celebrate winning season

    Penrith Panthers celebrate winning season

    Darren Edmondson leaves Penrith AFC

    Darren Edmondson leaves Penrith AFC

    Lucy plays key role in county T20 triumph

    Lucy plays key role in county T20 triumph

    Gold for Keith in annual festival of orienteering

    Gold for Keith in annual festival of orienteering

    Cumberland and Westmorland wrestlers head to European championships

    Cumberland and Westmorland wrestlers head to European championships

  • Obituaries
  • Nostalgia
  • Online archive
  • Buy Photos
  • Buy your paper
  • North Lakes Living
No Result
View All Result
Cumberland and Westmorland Herald
  • News
    How can businesses combat increased pressure on cashflow and profitability?

    How can businesses combat increased pressure on cashflow and profitability?

    Penrith Players present Noel Coward’s Hay Fever

    Penrith Players present Noel Coward’s Hay Fever

    Paula Roberts’ pilgrim route to raise cash for Red Cross

    Paula Roberts’ pilgrim route to raise cash for Red Cross

    Farmers flock to North Sheep

    Farmers flock to North Sheep

    Cumbrian animal charity celebrates with dog show for opening of new kennel complex

    Cumbrian animal charity celebrates with dog show for opening of new kennel complex

    Appleby Horse Fair: Several cases of animal cruelty

    Appleby Horse Fair: Several cases of animal cruelty

    Multiple fire crews tackle roof fire in Crosby Ravensworth

    Multiple fire crews tackle roof fire in Crosby Ravensworth

    Free domestic abuse support drop-in service launches in Penrith

    Free domestic abuse support drop-in service launches in Penrith

    Penrith bar relaunched with vibrant events planned

    Penrith bar relaunched with vibrant events planned

  • Sport
    Patterdale’s Eden Eagles make history

    Patterdale’s Eden Eagles make history

    Penrith teen crowned British vault champion

    Penrith teen crowned British vault champion

    Penrith gymnasts represent North of England in finals

    Penrith gymnasts represent North of England in finals

    New boss revealed for Penrith AFC

    New boss revealed for Penrith AFC

    Penrith Panthers celebrate winning season

    Penrith Panthers celebrate winning season

    Darren Edmondson leaves Penrith AFC

    Darren Edmondson leaves Penrith AFC

    Lucy plays key role in county T20 triumph

    Lucy plays key role in county T20 triumph

    Gold for Keith in annual festival of orienteering

    Gold for Keith in annual festival of orienteering

    Cumberland and Westmorland wrestlers head to European championships

    Cumberland and Westmorland wrestlers head to European championships

  • Obituaries
  • Nostalgia
  • Online archive
  • Buy Photos
  • Buy your paper
  • North Lakes Living
No Result
View All Result
Cumberland and Westmorland Herald
No Result
View All Result
Home News

WATCH: First sighting of baby beavers born in north Cumbria

by CWH
2 October 2024
in Latest, News
A A
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Beavers are breeding in north Cumbria, with two kits born this summer.

Cumbria Beaver Group has announced the arrival of two beaver kits at the Lowther Estate near Penrith.

It’s four years since a pair of Eurasian beavers, Glen and Dragonfly, were introduced in a licensed, enclosed scientific release. It appears to be the first time the beavers successfully bred, much to the delight of conservationists around the county.

It’s thought that the kits were born in May or June this year, but the group has waited for the young family to establish itself and to ensure the kits were thriving, before releasing footage of them, taken on camera traps.

Elizabeth Ogilvie, ecologist at The Lowther Estate said: “It has been a joy to watch the beaver kits through the trail cameras this summer. This winter the beaver adults developed their lodge and expanded their ponds, thus creating some wetland in the grassland part of the enclosure.

Picture: The Lowther Estate

“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.

“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.

“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 at Lowther are in a fenced-in enclosure on the Lowther Estate and cannot be visited by members of the public.

Beavers are a keystone species and have a highly positive impact on their environment.

Picture: Ray Lewis/Kent Wildlife Trust

These industrious herbivores are native to mainland Britain but were hunted to extinction in the 16th century by people who wanted their fur, meat, and scent glands. The end of beavers led to the loss of the mosaic of lakes, meres, mires, tarns, and boggy places that they were instrumental in creating.

The aim of Cumbria Beaver Group is to enable the well-planned and managed reintroduction of beavers to Cumbria, through the delivery and support of enclosed scientific beaver release trials, as well as community engagement and advocacy.

In the long term, the group would like to see beavers return to Cumbria. However, it said, it was vital that any reintroduction was well planned, well managed and has the support of the local community.

Cumbria Beaver Group is made up of Cumbria Wildlife Trust, The RSPB, The Lowther Estates and Eden Rivers Trust and is working in consultation with Natural England, the Environment Agency, United Utilities, Forestry England, the University of Cumbria and others.

Related Posts

How can businesses combat increased pressure on cashflow and profitability?
Expert advice

How can businesses combat increased pressure on cashflow and profitability?

8 June 2025
Penrith Players present Noel Coward’s Hay Fever
Latest

Penrith Players present Noel Coward’s Hay Fever

7 June 2025
Paula Roberts’ pilgrim route to raise cash for Red Cross
News

Paula Roberts’ pilgrim route to raise cash for Red Cross

6 June 2025
Farmers flock to North Sheep
Farm and Countryside

Farmers flock to North Sheep

6 June 2025
Cumbrian animal charity celebrates with dog show for opening of new kennel complex
News

Cumbrian animal charity celebrates with dog show for opening of new kennel complex

6 June 2025
Patterdale’s Eden Eagles make history
Latest

Patterdale’s Eden Eagles make history

6 June 2025
No Result
View All Result

Stay connected

Facebook Twitter Instagram

Most popular

Appleby Horse Fair: Several cases of animal cruelty

Appleby Horse Fair: Several cases of animal cruelty

5 June 2025
Honorary assistant bishop Geoffrey Hewlett Thompson

Honorary assistant bishop Geoffrey Hewlett Thompson

6 June 2025
How can businesses combat increased pressure on cashflow and profitability?

How can businesses combat increased pressure on cashflow and profitability?

8 June 2025
Paula Roberts’ pilgrim route to raise cash for Red Cross

Paula Roberts’ pilgrim route to raise cash for Red Cross

6 June 2025
Penrith Players present Noel Coward’s Hay Fever

Penrith Players present Noel Coward’s Hay Fever

7 June 2025
Looking back through the archives

Looking back through the archives

6 June 2025
Cumberland and Westmorland Herald Logo

33 Middlegate
Penrith
Cumbria
CA11 7SY

Phone: 01768 862313
Email: news@cwherald.com

Registered in England as Barrnon Media Limited. No: 12475190
VAT registration number: 343486488

Explore

  • News
  • Sport
  • Farming
  • Property
  • Obituaries
  • Nostalgia
  • Your view

Useful links

  • Contact us
  • Photosales
  • Online archive
  • Buy your paper
  • Digital edition
  • North Lakes Living
  • Advertise
  • About us

Follow us on

© Barrnon Media Limited 2025

Terms & Conditions / Privacy Policy / Cookie Policy

This website and its associated newspaper are members of the Independent Press Standards Organisation
IPSO Logo
Review Your Cart
0
Discount
Add Coupon Code
Subtotal
Total Installment Payments
Bundle Discount
Checkout

 
0
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Sport
  • Obituaries
  • Nostalgia
  • Online archive
  • more
    • North Lakes Living
    • Buy Photos
    • Buy your paper
    • About us
    • Contact us

© 2020 Cumberland & Westmorland Herald