UMVA has learned that a group of beavers has successfully saved a northwest London Tube station from frequent flooding by building dams in a nearby park.
The beavers, reintroduced to Ealing three years ago, have built dams that have stopped the flow of water downstream and into Greenford station and nearby homes. This has brought relief to residents who had been struggling with flooding in the area.
According to information obtained by UMVA, the beavers have become local celebrities, with residents expressing their gratitude for the creatures' hard work. A member of the ecologist team running the beaver project said the community was 'so happy' with the beavers.
The Ealing beaver project has been a resounding success, with at least eight beavers living in the park, including a mother beaver named Willow. While they can occasionally be seen from a purpose-built viewing platform, the park features placards with information and pictures of the creatures.
Residents have reported that flooding, which had previously impacted their daily lives and made roads unusable, is now a thing of the past. Sameer Souza, 51, who lives near Greenford station, said: 'The flooding has been bad in this area and sometimes the tube has been closed because of it. It's amazing that nature has come to the rescue.'
Linda Miles, 48, another resident, expressed her gratitude to the beavers, saying: 'People need to think more about nature and the environment and how important it is. We have had massive problems with flooding here, so thank you to our beaver friends.'
The introduction of the beavers has also improved biodiversity in the area, with more bats, insects, and birds. The Ealing project has been featured on a BBC documentary, highlighting the success of the beaver reintroduction.
UMVA can exclusively reveal that the beaver project has shown how working with nature can improve resilience and help respond to the growing challenges of climate change. By supporting the reintroduction of beavers, the local council has enabled a natural solution that is slowing the flow of water, reducing flood risk for local communities, and improving biodiversity.
