White storks to return to London for first time in 600 years
White storks are set to return to London for the first time in six centuries as part of a landmark rewilding effort.
The birds, once native to Britain but became extinct in the 1400s, will be released at Eastbrookend Country Park in Dagenham from October 2026, where it is hoped they will establish a breeding colony.
The project will make the park the second place in the UK where the public can witness the reintroduction of these long-absent birds.
White storks became completely extinct in Britain in the 15th century due to overhunting, such as the draining of wetlands and agricultural changes; They were eaten at medieval banquets and most recently faced persecution during the English Civil War when they became symbols of rebellion and were deliberately targeted.
After being away from the country for 600 years, they were first reintroduced from Polish ancestry in 2016 as part of a major rewilding project on the Knepp estate in West Sussex, with the first chicks hatching in 2020.
Alongside the new stork population, beavers are also planned to be released at Eastbrookend Country Park in 2027; They will be the second group to be released in the capital under a national reintroduction program that will see beavers return to Britain after a 400-year absence.
The introduction of the two iconic species follows extensive work to restore and expand wetland habitat through a partnership between the London Wildlife Trust and the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham, and supported by the mayor of London.
According to the trust, the project is designed to improve access to nature, enable outdoor learning and create opportunities for growth, while increasing local biodiversity.
The foundation said a specially built aviary will house the storks and their chicks will eventually be released to help establish a new breeding population in the area.
“Large stork nests provide valuable habitat for small birds and their natural feeding behavior can support ecosystem health,” they said.
The following year, the beavers will be released into a public enclosure where they will have access to two lakes. As renowned “ecosystem engineers,” beavers have a remarkable ability to reshape their environments, creating rich wetland habitats that support a wide variety of wildlife. These include wetland plants, invertebrates, birds, bats, fish, and various small mammals.
Sam Davenport, nature recovery manager at the London Wildlife Trust, said he hoped the reintroduction of storks and beavers would help us “imagine an ambitious future for nature recovery in the capital”.
“This will inspire communities to create more wetland habitats by connecting with nature and landowners, thereby benefiting other species,” he said.
Dominic Twomey, Leader of Barking and Dagenham Council, said: “This is a fantastic achievement for our borough and a real win for our residents. The return of beavers and the reintroduction of white storks to Eastbrookend Country Park will transform people’s experience of nature in Barking and Dagenham. This is about more than wildlife – it’s about giving families, schools and community groups the chance to be part of something inspiring and hopeful.”
Mete Coban, London’s deputy mayor for environment and energy, said: “The reintroduction of white storks and beavers to the capital complements our work to transform neighborhoods and improve London’s green and blue spaces. Access to nature is a matter of social justice and we want to ensure all Londoners can experience the amazing green spaces and wildlife in this city.”
