White storks return to Derbyshire after 600 years in ambitious rewilding project
Three juvenile white storks have been released at Willington Wetlands in Derbyshire, the first step in a project to bring the birds back to the Midlands after more than 600 years.
The storks — one male, one female, and one yet to be sexed — were bred in Staffordshire and moved into a predator-proof enclosure at the 40-hectare wetland. Conservationists hope they will act as a “magnet flock” to attract wild migrating storks and start a breeding population.
White storks vanished from the region in the 14th century due to habitat loss and hunting. Years of restoration work at Willington has created wet grassland, pools and reed beds suitable for storks. The site is also home to Derbyshire’s first beavers in 800 years.
“This is about more than one bird,” said Katie Last of Derbyshire Wildlife Trust. “It’s about healthier wetlands and reconnecting people with nature.”The £309,000 project is funded by the Veolia Environmental Trust. The trust plans to monitor the birds and potentially release more, with the long-term aim of linking the reserve to a wildlife corridor along the River Trent.
