New Beaver Kits in Hampshire Named by Local Children and Scouts

Bobby and Barry are the names given to two beaver kits, marking the first birth of their species in Hampshire in four centuries, a result of a naming competition involving local youngsters. Their parents, Chompy and Hazel, were introduced to the Ewhurst Park estate, situated close to Basingstoke, in January 2023. These young beavers were initially observed playing in the water within their designated enclosure during July. The names were selected by Year 5 students from St Gabriel’s in Newbury and, appropriately, by Beaver Scouts from the 3rd Alton scout group. Stanley Johnson, a former Member of the European Parliament (MEP), author, and environmentalist, presented a trophy to the victors. In conjunction with the naming contest, the park organized a week-long program of activities, inviting students from various Hampshire schools to tour the 925-acre estate and observe the beaver family. During their visit, the children explored the beaver enclosure, learned about beaver ecology, and constructed bug hotels, contributing to the park’s ongoing nature restoration initiative. Video recordings from wildlife cameras have documented the two young male beavers beginning to acquire the skills of gnawing and felling trees. Bobby and Barry are expected to remain with their parents until they reach approximately two years of age. In the 16th Century, beavers were eradicated from Britain due to hunting. This estate is among several locations throughout England where these mammals are being reintroduced to serve as “ecosystem engineers,” constructing dams and cutting down trees to create essential habitat and provisions for insects, fish, plants, birds, and bats, while also assisting in reducing flooding hazards. The names Chompy and Hazel were selected by pupils from Mount Pleasant Junior School in Southampton and Whitchurch CE Primary School. BBC Berkshire can be followed on Facebook, X, or Instagram. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC disclaims responsibility for the content of external websites. Information regarding our external linking policy is available.