Capel Manor College, in partnership with Enfield Council, successfully hosted a community tree-planting event on Thursday, 27 February 2025, as part of a vital conservation effort to expand the beaver enclosure at Forty Hall Farm. Staff, students and volunteers joined forces to plant 800 tree saplings – including willow, aspen, hazel, alder, osier, silver birch and green beach – enhancing the habitat for the resident beaver family and supporting local biodiversity.
Since the reintroduction of beavers to London in 2022, Capel Manor College has played a crucial role in their care and welfare. As custodians of the enclosure, the College’s staff and students actively monitor and support these keystone species, which contribute to natural flood management and ecosystem restoration.
During the event, volunteers planted saplings across a 1,500-square-meter area, providing an essential food source and improving the environment for the beavers and other wildlife. Despite muddy conditions, participants of all skill levels worked enthusiastically, equipped with gloves and tools provided by the College.
“This project is a testament to the power of community involvement in conservation,” said Paul Grainger, Farm Technician at Capel Manor College and Forty Hall Farm. “We are incredibly grateful to everyone who took part, demonstrating their commitment to wildlife and habitat restoration.”
The enclosure expansion is part of Capel Manor College’s broader commitment to conservation education and habitat restoration. Made possible through a partnership with Enfield Council and a £50,000 grant from the Rewild London Fund, the project includes enhancements such as water quality monitoring, public viewing platforms and educational initiatives, with further developments to be announced in the coming months.
For more information about the Enfield Beaver Project and future conservation activities at Capel Manor College, contact [email protected].
