Tuesday 12 May 2026 — An unusual wildlife plan in the north of Croydon is moving through its next steps, with South Norwood Country Park identified as a possible future home for a family of Eurasian beavers.
The project is not in Norbury itself, but it is close enough to matter for residents interested in Croydon’s parks, biodiversity and family days out. Croydon Council’s project page says the scheme aims to bring beavers to South Norwood Country Park, with the hope that the animals could arrive in 2028 if the required checks, funding and permissions are completed.
According to Croydon Council, the council is working with urban rewilding group Citizen Zoo, which was involved in London’s first openly accessible urban beaver population at the Ealing Beaver Project. The Croydon proposal would still need further feasibility work, additional funding and approval of licences by Natural England before any animals could be introduced.
A council newsroom update published in April said a consultation run in February and March received 817 responses. It reported that 90% of respondents were very supportive, 6% somewhat supportive, 2% somewhat opposed and 2% strongly opposed. The same update said the project would now move towards the licence stage with Natural England.
Why beavers?
Beavers are often described by conservation bodies as “ecosystem engineers” because their dam-building can create and maintain wetland habitat. Croydon Council says the expected benefits of the project include improved water quality, reduced flood risk in the immediate landscape and more varied habitat for wildlife.
The council says South Norwood Country Park was chosen because it has suitable wetland, lake, meadow and woodland habitats. The council’s April update described it as a 47-hectare Local Nature Reserve, recording more than 100 bird species each year, as well as bats, butterflies, reptiles and amphibians.
What residents can watch next
For now, this is a proposal rather than a confirmed release. The practical questions are whether the site passes the remaining feasibility and licensing tests, how the secure enclosure would be funded and managed, and how public access would work alongside animal welfare and habitat protection.
Norbury residents who use Croydon’s green spaces can follow updates on Croydon Council’s beavers project page and the council newsroom consultation update.