Once at home in our waterways;

Eco engineers, build, craft and weave;

Ceaselessly shaping the land to their needs;

Balancing Nature with ingenious skills.

Beaver-made environments, a joy to behold;

Rivercourses rich with fish, fowl, herbivores and voles;

Strict vegetarians, distinct tails and teeth;

Constructing dams and lodges, coppicing trees.

Found in Willow woodlands, on river banks;

A well-trodden path to the water’s edge;

A Beaver lodge for safety with underwater doors;

Dry tunnels for cosy nests, with straw on the floors.

Caring for each other, kind to their young;

They love to snuggle up, to keep themselves warm;

Providing their kits with all they require;

No wonder the Beaver is so loved and admired.

Sue Cartwright

Spiral Leaf