Beavers are back in London. For the first time in 400 years, a family of wild beavers are calling the capital their home, nibbling away at trees and building dams in a nature reserve in west London. They didn’t find their way to Greenford accidentally, however. Their presence is a testament to a growing rewilding movement across the UK.

Rewilding can take many different forms, whether reintroducing lost and endangered species, turning over farmland to nature, or reducing the risk of flooding. Its benefits extend beyond the chance of a brief encounter with a beaver – it’s playing a leading role in tackling the climate crisis and boosting biodiversity.

But it can also come up against challenges, with funding often scarce and public attitudes sometimes skeptical.