London’s first urban beaver reintroduction is set to celebrate its work – and the LGBTQI+ people leading it – with a day of fundraising and festivities at Greenford’s Paradise Fields and Horsenden Hill Farm on 6 September 2025.
In October 2023, after nearly 400 years, beavers were reintroduced back to Ealing. The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, joined forces with Ealing Wildlife Group, Citizen Zoo, Ealing Council, Friends of Horsenden Hill and Groundwork London to release a family of five into the wild at Paradise Fields in Greenford. The animals have since become central to efforts to restore wetlands and create a healthier, wilder urban environment.
Citizen Zoo is launching Big Gay Beaver Day – a celebration of nature, diversity and community, and a chance to recognise and celebrate the capital’s LGBTQI+ communities. The organisers said: “This special fundraising event is dedicated to our queer community and proudly celebrates that the project itself is queer-led. It’s a chance to connect, support wider beaver reintroductions across London, and have an unforgettable day of fun.”
The event begins with a guided tour of the beaver landscape at Paradise Fields, before moving to Horsenden Hill Farm, where drag star Beary Poppins will headline an evening of flamboyant entertainment. With pizza, drinks and plenty of camp performance, organisers hope to raise funds to expand beaver reintroductions across the capital.
Tickets cost £27.80 and can be booked here, with spaces strictly limited to 100 adults. Organisers are urging people to book early: “Come as you are and help create a wilder London for everyone.”
