Rewilding the Capital: University of Brighton Graduate Appointed as UK’s First Urban Beaver Officer

Şeniz Mustafa, who graduated from the University of Brighton in 2024 with a Master’s in Ecology and Conservation, is now making environmental history at the Ealing Beaver Project in West London.

Based at Paradise Fields in Greenford, Şeniz’s role is the first of its kind, focused specifically on fostering "human-beaver coexistence" in a densely populated urban environment. As London’s first fully accessible urban beaver reintroduction site, the project is dedicated to bringing people closer to nature right in the heart of the city, enhancing biodiversity and engaging the community in wildlife conservation.   

Since joining the project in 2025, Şeniz and her team have already engaged nearly 5,000 people, exceeding expectations, including beaver-spotting safaris and community workshops. Her work is helping to turn the 10-hectare site into a "living classroom" where residents can see first-hand how beavers are thriving and helping to tackle the climate crisis.   

The impact of the eight beavers, originally a family of five introduced in October 2023, has been nothing short of transformative. One key benefit is their natural flood management. Beavers build dams to maintain water levels for their own safety, which, in turn reduce downstream flooding by holding back water. Areas that have experienced regular flooding for a decade did not flood in 2024, thanks to the beaver dams. Additionally, the site has shown increased resilience to drought conditions.  

Beyond flood control, the beavers contribute to carbon storage and significantly enhance biodiversity by creating complex habitats. Beaver activity has led to the creation of wetlands, deadwood habitats, and deeper water areas, all of which support diverse species. And water quality has improved dramatically – from being described as a “dead zone” before the project to now supporting a variety of aquatic life.  

Şeniz Mustafa, Urban Beaver Officer, said: "Beavers bring unique environmental benefits that humans simply cannot replicate. To see an area that flooded for ten years straight suddenly become resilient is incredible. My job is to show that we can live and thrive alongside beavers. Whether it’s through our popular beaver-spotting safaris or community walks, seeing people’s faces light up when they realize there are beavers in Ealing is the best part of the job."  

Beyond the ecology, Şeniz is using her platform to tackle the lack of diversity within the environmental sector—statistically one of the UK’s least diverse professions. By hosting free weekend events and working closely to include underrepresented groups, participation rates at the project are now significantly exceeding national averages.   

Şeniz said: "Inclusivity is at the heart of this. We want everyone to feel they belong here and we see this as our community grows. We’ve even seen a reduction in anti-social behavior around the site because people now feel a sense of pride and safety in this shared space."   

Şeniz credits her time at the University of Brighton for providing the springboard for her career. During her studies, she undertook research on the dietary behavior of White Storks at the famous Knepp Estate and worked as a student ambassador.  

She said: "My lecturers, particularly Maureen Berg, Rachel White and Anja Rotr, were so supportive. They gave me the freedom to align my assignments with my passion for rewilding. Being a student ambassador also helped me develop the communication skills I use every day to explain complex science to the public."  

Şeniz’s appointment comes at a time of surging interest in the species. Just this week, naturalist Chris Packham celebrated the successful reintroduction of wild beavers to East Sussex for the first time in 400 years. While the Sussex beavers roam the countryside, Şeniz’s work in Ealing provides the vital blueprint for how the UK’s "wildest" residents can integrate into 21st-century city life.  

The Ealing Beaver Project is a collaboration between Ealing Wildlife Group, Citizen Zoo, Friends of Horsenden, and Ealing Council, with support from the Beaver Trust and the Mayor of London. The project was previously featured in David Attenborough’s Wild London documentary.