Beavers at Craddocks Moss

Thanks to hundreds of generous donations and a grant, we will be able to welcome beavers to Craddocks Moss in 2026.

This exciting project has been made possible thanks to Veolia Environmental Trust, who gave a £138,000* grant, and more than £45,000 that has been donated by local people, businesses and organisations. This funding will create a safe and secure home for the beavers and monitor their initial impact on this important habitat - including soil quality and the variety of plants and animals.

Subject to weather conditions, the groundworks for the enclosure will start soon. Once their new home is ready, a beaver pair will travel from Scotland to the large 47 acre site (the size of 26 football pitches).

Stay tuned on social media and this webpage for more updates.

Further donations: we would like to annually report the changes to soil, water quality and biodiversity at Craddocks Moss. We are seeking funders to contribute to the monitoring costs for years two to five. This funding will enable us to understand the impact of beavers and how to support their reintroduction across the county. If you would like to contribute to this, please contact Head of Fundraising and Development, Adela Appleby, at adela.appleby@staffs-wildlife.org.uk

About Craddocks Moss

Craddocks Moss is a unique lowland raised bog located to the west of Newcastle-under-Lyme in Staffordshire.

Many years ago, non-native trees were planted on the bog. This completely dried out the peat and destroyed the habitat for many types of insects, birds and plants. Hardly any wildlife was found there.

Thankfully, the site was later recognised for its uniqueness and steps were taken to repair the damage. Most of the trees were removed, so that the bog could rewet and start to recover. This on-site recovery work showed that this precious habitat could once again be an oasis for wildlife.

A sunset scene of a wet bog, bordered by pine trees

In 2019 we had the chance to buy Craddocks Moss. We were only able to do so thanks to the generosity of our members, and crowdfunding donations. Our vision is to restore it to a thriving wetland rich in wildlife.

However, birch saplings and brambles are starting to take over again. If left unchecked, the peat will dry out and release more stored carbon into the atmosphere. We can’t let this happen.

There is a natural solution: beavers. These incredible ecosystem engineers create wetlands which support wildlife, absorb carbon dioxide, reduce flooding, and improve water quality.

In 2025, we successfully ran an appeal to raise the funds needed to bring beavers to Craddocks Moss. Thanks to the generosity of our supporters and a grant from Veolia Environmental Trust, the work can now begin to prepare our beaver family's new home.

What work is needed to welcome the beavers?

We need to complete the groundworks and build a secure enclosure for the beavers. Staff and equipment are required to monitor them, and we'll need to secure expert-led site management and evaluation for five years. We also want to create footpaths and a viewing platform for visitors.

What will the beavers do at Craddocks Moss?

Beavers will help to maintain a healthy wetland by eating saplings and creating dams to plug any gaps in the earth bunds (peat walls) to make sure water is kept in the bog. As well as preventing the release of carbon, this will create habitats for an abundance of wildlife such as dragonflies, bats, and birds.

An aerial view of Craddocks Moss, showing how tree growth has taken over.

When will the beavers be released? Can we visit them?

Subject to weather conditions the groundworks for the enclosure will start early 2026. Once their new home is ready, a beaver pair will travel from Scotland to the large 47 acre site (the size of 26 football pitches). Keep an eye on this webpage for updates!

While Craddocks Moss isn't currently open for visitors due to the conditions there, we plan to create footpaths and a viewing platform, so you can witness the work of these amazing creatures for yourself.

What wildlife will benefit from the project?

Introducing beavers to Craddocks Moss will help to create habitats for an abundance of wildlife to thrive. This includes damselflies, dragonflies, birds, and bats.

Learn more about some of the species beavers will benefit:

White-faced darter dragonfly

Dragonflies

Beavers could boost dragonfly species by up to seven times in the UK, raising hopes for the return of the rare white-faced darter dragonfly.

Marsh tit

Birds

Areas with beavers have seen bird species and abundance increase up to 100 metres away. One species we could see more of is the marsh tit.

Daubenton's bat

Bats

Evidence from other UK release sites has shown up to a 400% increase in bat activity, including species such as the Daubenton's bat.

*The value of the Veolia grant stated includes 10% £13,380 match funding from the donations received.

The public appeal for beavers at Craddocks Moss was launched in October 2025 to raise the final £25,000 needed to fund this £175,000 project. Any surplus is being used to help meet the annual costs of managing Craddocks Moss and other nature reserves.