Cheshire Wildlife Trust is marking International Beaver Day today by announcing the names of Hatchmere Nature Reserve's new resident beavers.

Last month it launched a competition to name the pair of Eurasian beavers, which were released into an enclosed site at Hatchmere Nature Reserve on the edge of Delamere Forest in November 2020 after being driven to extinction over 400 years ago.

The Trust received almost 500 names from local school children and members of the public.

The male beaver will be called Rowan, a name suggested by Leo Spencer, aged 9, from Delamere C of E Primary Academy.

Leo says "I chose the name after finding out Rowan was a type of tree that grows near water so one that the beavers in Hatchmere might cut down to make a dam. I hope I get to see Rowan and the female one day."

Willow has been chosen as the name for the female beaver, which was submitted by a member of the public.

The winning names were chosen by Kev Feeney, Hatchmere Living Landscape Officer, who is leading the beaver project at Hatchmere.

Kev says: "We were overwhelmed by the response to the naming competition.

"People had obviously put a lot of thought into their names and told us some really touching stories behind their choices, which were lovely to read.

"It was really difficult to choose but after lots of consideration and some help from the team at Cheshire Wildlife Trust, we picked Rowan and Willow. They're both beautiful trees and I think they suit the beavers perfectly.

"We had so many great entries and some of the names were very clever and creative. We had some great puns and 'Beaver McBeaverface' and 'Justin Beaver' were suggested a few times!

"Rowan and Willow are continuing to settle in really well. Their lodge gets bigger every time I visit the enclosure.

"As always, people can check our website and social media for all of our updates can be part of bringing beavers back to Cheshire. Thank you to everyone who took the time to enter our competition."

Bringing beavers back to Cheshire is part of an ambitious five-year project that aims to prove that beavers are fantastic for nature in the UK.

Wildlife Trust supporters have raised just over half of the £85,000 required, however £42,000 is still needed to look after the beavers and monitor the effect they're having on Hatchmere's wetlands.

People are still able to be part of bringing beavers back to Cheshire by making a donation to the beaver appeal.

Donations will fund regular health checks for the animals, surveying for new wildlife the beavers are bringing back, more cameras to capture all the exciting beaver behaviour and training for volunteers to help look after the pair.