Credit: Beaver Trust
PROJECT 003π
cairngorms national park
BRINGING BEAVERS BACK
Episode 4
Episode 4 of Wild Spaces takes us to Scotland and the UK’s largest national park – the Cairngorms. Famous for its spectacular landscapes and iconic wildlife, the National Park is home to one quarter of the UK’s rare and endangered species, and nearly half of its area is considered ‘wild land’.
In this episode we’re telling the story of bringing beavers back to the Cairngorms National Park after an absence of 400 years. Beavers are an ecosystem engineer and are being brought back to help us in the fight against climate change and biodiversity loss.
Beavers are famous for their big flat tail and their ability to build dams. As a species they have an ability to change the environment around them, from coppicing trees to damming smaller water courses and creating narrow canals. In doing so, beavers create the ideal habitat for species such as frogs and toads, otters, water voles, dragonflies and birds.
In 2025 there are juvenile Beavers ready to find mates of their own, kits expected in several locations, and the tell-tale signs of nibbled sticks are being spotted by locals and visitors near lochs and along one of our most iconic rivers.
Wild Spaces —–
Episode 4 ––
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CAIRNGORMS National Park
At 4,528 sq km (or 6% of Scotland’s land mass), the Cairngorms is the UK’s largest national park. Famous for its spectacular landscapes and iconic wildlife, the National Park is home to one quarter of the UK’s rare and endangered species, and nearly half of its area is considered ‘wild land’.
The National Park is also home to around 18,000 residents across the areas of Aberdeenshire, Angus, Highland, Moray, Perth and Kinross, and two million visitors enjoy this special place every year.
The National Park has four distinct aims as set out by Scottish Parliament:
To conserve and enhance the natural and cultural heritage of the area.
To promote sustainable use of the natural resources of the area.
To promote understanding and enjoyment (including enjoyment in the form of recreation) of the special qualities of the area by the public.
To promote sustainable economic and social development of the area’s communities.
The Cairngorms National Park is one of the most outstanding places for nature and wildlife.
It's home to a remarkable 25% of the UK’s most rare and endangered species. The rich mosaic of high-quality, well-connected habitats make it a stronghold for species like the red squirrel, crossbill, wood ants, ptarmigan, goldeneye – and a refuge for some of our most iconic, such as capercaillie and the Scottish wildcat.
Credit: James Shooter
DONATE
TODAY
Credit: Ronan Dugan / WildLand Ltd
The Cairngorms National Park Authority is a public sector organisation that exists to support the National Park, but the funding that we have only goes so far. In a National Park the size of the Cairngorms, achieving work on the scale that we do, donations can play a huge part in ensuring our work remains bold and ambitious.
The Cairngorms Trust is a registered charity on a mission to promote sustainable and community-led development throughout the local area for the benefit of the people who live here and the visitors who come to enjoy all that the National Park has to offer.
From supporting local businesses to reduce their carbon emissions to funding cycling and path infrastructure, the Cairngorms Trust supports a range of projects that empower communities and preserve the environment.
Credit: Beaver Trust