‘BEAVER fever’ is being celebrated by the National Trust as Disney and Pixar release a new animated movie ‘Hoppers’.

The trust is offering opportunities to virtually explore its thriving beaver enclosure on the Holnicote estate, Exmoor, through a brand-new interactive experience.

And it is running a competition for people to see the Holnicote beavers in real life, including an exclusive ranger-led Exmoor beaver wetland tour and a four-night stay at the trust’s nearby Keeper’s House holiday cottage, in Dunster.

It follows the successful release last month of beavers into the wilds of Exmoor after a 400-year absence.

Families can explore the thriving beaver enclosure at Holnicote, between Minehead and Porlock, using the new interactive experience Wild Quest, which has been inspired by the real wetlands shaped by the estate’s resident beavers.

Wild Quest allows families to step inside a computer generated image-enhanced beaver habitat and search for 10 hidden British species, including an otter, kingfisher, water vole, and roe deer.

Each appears through subtle clues such as ripples, rustles, or flashes of movement, capturing the joy of discovery and the magic of the natural world.

Wild Quest has been shaped by pupils from Tivington Farm School and St Dubricius First School, in Porlock, placing young people at the heart of the project from its beginning.

Holnicote community and volunteering manager Charlotte Burke has worked closely with both schools to help develop creative sessions where students named the wetland characters and recorded their voiceovers, giving the game its distinctive local voice.

Ms Burke said: “We know children and young people are naturally drawn to games.

“By inviting them to help shape the wildlife characters, we have created something that feels relevant and fun, while also helping them connect more deeply with British wildlife and the landscapes around them.”

St Dubricius headteacher Lucy Walker Blair said: “It has been fantastic for our pupils to contribute to something so creative and community focused.

“Being involved in a real-world project like this gives them confidence and a sense of ownership, as well as experiences they would not usually have in the classroom.”

The launch of Wild Quest comes after the trust released a family and a pair of Eurasian beavers into the wild at two sites across the wider Holnicote estate, with further releases to come.

The Natural England-licensed releases and carefully thought through project will help expand a healthy, connected population, building on earlier enclosed introductions and supporting the trust’s wider wetland restoration work.

Wild Quest forms part of the trust’s wider celebration of the ‘Hoppers’ film release, joining ‘Hop into the Wild’ trails at 19 National Trust places and pop-up beaver experiences for families in London and Sheffield later this month.

It is tailored for ages five to 19 years and encourages young explorers to notice the signs of life all around them and build a deeper connection with nature, offering ways to explore wildlife whether or not families can visit Holnicote in person.

The trust competition can be entered on its website by 11.59 pm on Sunday, March 22.