Nature & Wildlife

A home for Eurasian Beavers

After a 400-year absence from much of the UK, Eurasian beavers returned to Trentham in March 2023 as part of a licensed enclosure and reintroduction project. A family of three beavers was carefully translocated from Scotland to help restore natural processes, enhance biodiversity, and reconnect visitors with one of Britain’s most remarkable native mammals.

Beavers are powerful ecosystem engineers, shaping landscapes in ways that benefit a wide range of plants and wildlife. At Trentham, their activity is already beginning to transform the lakeside environment, creating richer habitats, opening up views across the water, and offering visitors a rare opportunity to observe beavers in a natural setting.

Discover how beavers are helping nature recover, why they matter to the ecosystem, and how you can see them in action at Trentham.

Discover our beaver reintroduction project

Birds

The estate’s varied habitats support a rich diversity of birdlife. The River Trent, its brooks, water meadows, lake, and islands attract over 50 species throughout the year, including a thriving heronry of 42 breeding pairs, resident kingfishers and dippers, native waterfowl, and a breeding family of Black Swans. Summer migrants also visit to nest and feed.

Over 40 species can be found in the woodlands, where goldcrests, treecreepers, and long-tailed tits flit among 250-year-old trees. Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers can be heard drumming, alongside summer migrants such as flycatchers, redstarts, and wood warblers. Heathland birds include yellowhammers, skylarks, and bullfinches. Buzzards, kestrels, sparrowhawks, and barn and tawny owls hunt year-round, with occasional red kite sightings. Garden birds, including robins and mistle and song thrushes, complete the picture with song at dawn and dusk.

Buglife & Invertebrates

Invertebrates play a crucial role in Trentham’s wildlife and biodiversity. Flowering plants, wildflower meadows, mature trees, and wetland habitats support a rich variety of insects across the estate.

Pollinators such as bees and hoverflies are common, alongside butterflies and moths. Nineteen butterfly species have been recorded, including Purple Hairstreaks feeding high in mature oak canopies.

Dragonflies and damselflies thrive across ponds, wetlands, and lake margins, reflecting the health and quality of these habitats. Woodlands such as Kingswood and North Park support rare and priority invertebrate species, with parts designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).

Deadwood is an important feature throughout the estate, providing habitat and food for insects, supporting the wider food chain, and acting as a natural fertiliser for woodland ecosystems.

Grazing Animals

Grazing animals, including cattle, sheep, and deer, play a crucial role in managing habitats at Trentham. Through conservation grazing, they help maintain species-rich grassland, prevent scrub growth, and support a diverse mix of plants and wildlife.

Mammals

Alongside the reintroduced Eurasian beavers, Trentham supports a wide range of mammals commonly found in the British countryside. These include Hedgehogs, Grey Squirrels, and three species of deer. Five bat species have been recorded, while Foxes, Otters, and Badgers are regularly present across the estate.

Small mammals are widespread, and with luck visitors may spot Weasels or Stoats. As habitats continue to improve, Polecats and possibly Pine Martens may naturally return to the estate in the future.

Reptiles & Amphibians

Adders have previously been recorded on the estate and pose little risk to visitors, though dogs should be kept on short 2-metre leads at all times. Grass Snakes are occasionally seen near the lake and gardens.

Join us on our Dusk Beaver Safari

Enjoy an unforgettable dusk wildlife experience with scenic lake views, behind-the-scenes knowledge, and the chance to get a closer look at Trentham’s famous residents – the beavers.

Learn about Trentham’s restoration work and biodiversity from an experienced guide, who will help you develop your wildlife observation skills while sharing stories behind the estate’s rewilding journey and rich landscape history.