Home / Environment / White Storks Return to Derbyshire After 600 Years!
White Storks Return to Derbyshire After 600 Years!
28 Jul
Summary
- White storks have returned to Derbyshire after a 600-year absence.
- £300,000 was invested in a new, predator-proof enclosure.
- The project aims to reintroduce lost species and reconnect people with nature.
White storks have made a remarkable comeback to Derbyshire, reappearing in the region after an absence of more than 600 years. Derbyshire Wildlife Trust has invested over £300,000 in a specially designed enclosure at Willington Wetlands. This new habitat is built to be predator-proof and adaptable for future species recovery projects.
The trust has observed an increase in stork sightings in recent years, with birds recorded flying over the area in 2024 and nearby in 2025. However, none had previously stayed to breed. The new nesting pair is expected to act as a "social magnet," encouraging other storks to settle and reproduce.
This reintroduction effort is part of a broader initiative by the trust to reconnect people with nature and demonstrate successful wildlife restoration. Similar projects at Willington Wetlands have seen the successful return of beavers in 2021 and new recordings of bitterns and harvest mice in 2024. The trust plans to engage local communities through events and volunteering to support the storks' return and broader nature recovery goals.
