Story
Traditional conservation efforts in the UK are failing, with most of our major habitats in decline and 10-15% of species at risk of extinction. We are more disconnected from the natural world than ever before. We urgently need new solutions to restore ecosystems and inspire the next generation of nature leaders.
Since 2016 we have been establishing a population of white storks in Sussex, working in partnership with Cotswold Wildlife Park, Roy Dennis Wildlife Foundation and Wadhurst Park Estate. White storks are an iconic species to reintroduce – they act as a flagship for rewilding, helping to reconnect communities with nature and prove that ecosystems can recover.
2024 was a milestone year for the White Stork Project, with double the number of fledglings at Knepp, tens of thousands of visitors coming to see the storks (including 2,000 young people), and over 30,000 viewers of our live nest camera.
In 2025 we will be building on this success - capturing crucial migration data via GPS trackers and displaying this on a live migration map, hosting the UK's first white stork festival, and working with European partners to protect these iconic birds from persecution and habitat loss along their migration routes.
Loved as a symbol of hope and rebirth, it is fitting that storks are helping to write a new chapter in nature restoration.