The first beavers born in Hampshire since the 1600s have been officially named Bobby and Barry.

The two baby beavers, called kits, were born this summer in an enclosure at Ewhurst Park, and their names were chosen as part of a competition run by the 925-acre estate.

Winning school children were presented with a trophy by former Member of the European Parliament (MEP), author and environmentalist, Stanley Johnson, during a tour of the beaver enclosure.

READ MORE: Beavers born in Hampshire for first time in 400 years at Ewhurst Park

Baby beaver perched on a tree trunk captured by a wildlife camera at Ewhurst Park (Image: Ewhurst Park) Mr Johnson said: "As the former MEP for East Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, I am absolutely delighted to be here today for this wonderful beaver naming event.

"I want to congratulate all those who took part in the beaver naming competition, including of course, the winners, and the beavers themselves."

The names were selected by Year 5 pupils from St Gabriel’s, Newbury, and members of the 3rd Alton Beaver Scouts Kestrel Colony.

The school children’s visit marked the end of a week of educational activities run by Ewhurst Park for children.

Pupils learned about beaver ecology, toured the beaver enclosure and made bug hotels that will provide vital habitat for insects as part of the park’s nature restoration project.

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Hazel the beaver being released by Mandy Lieu in 2023 at Ewhurst Park (Image: Nick Upton) Ewhurst Park’s director Mandy Lieu said: "Education and outreach are essential to our ethos here at Ewhurst Park.

"We love to welcome children on site and are delighted to be engaging the next generation with the wonderful world of beavers and the importance of connecting with nature."

Debbie Tann, MBE, CEO of Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust, said: "The arrival of two kits at Ewhurst Park is a remarkable and heartwarming milestone for Hampshire’s natural environment.

"This naming competition offers a wonderful opportunity for the community to connect with these incredible animals and witness first-hand the positive impact they bring to our natural world."

Ewhurst Park continues to publish the latest updates from Bobby, Barry, and their parents on its social media channels, including footage from wildlife cameras that have so far shown them moving around their enclosure, eating plant material and starting to learn how to gnaw and fell trees.