Feathers fly over return of storks

By the Editorial Team · Monday, September 21, 2026

A rewilding project at the Knepp Estate in West Sussex has successfully established over 100 white storks, a species absent from Britain for more than 600 years. While supporters celebrate their return as a restoration of lost wildlife, Natural England and some ecologists question whether the introduction is historically accurate and raise concerns about potential ecological impacts.

A rewilding project in West Sussex has sparked debate over the return of white storks to Britain, with differing views on whether the birds truly belong in the country. The birds, which were relocated from Warsaw Zoo to the Knepp Estate in 2020, mark the reappearance of a species that proponents say was hunted to extinction in Britain around 600 years ago.

Since their release on the 3,500-acre former dairy farm, more than 100 storks have established themselves at Knepp, attracting visitors who admire their impressive two-metre wingspan. Isabella Tree, co-founder of the rewilding initiative alongside her husband Sir Charles Burrell, described the sight of the birds as uplifting. “You can spot one a mile away. It brings joy to the heart,” she said.

However, Natural England has expressed reservations about labeling the storks as a genuine reintroduction. The agency suggests that white storks may have only visited Britain briefly rather than breeding there historically. Concerns have also been raised by some ecologists regarding potential negative impacts on local wildlife, including populations of great crested newts and certain moth species. Ian Carter, a former ornithologist with Natural England, cautioned that introducing a species could lead to unforeseen consequences for native ecosystems. “You can’t impose a species on the environment without having knock-on effects on other species,” he said, emphasizing that the project does not constitute a true reintroduction.

Conversely, Derek Gow, an associate of Tree who has experience breeding storks for release, contested these concerns, noting that no evidence currently indicates any harmful effects from the birds' presence.

White storks have not been recorded nesting in Britain since 1416, but supporters of their return point to historical indications of their former presence, including place names like Storrington in West Sussex. For Tree, the dispute over the species’ past status in Britain overlooks the broader purpose of their introduction today. She argues that the public is generally supportive of the storks once they have the chance to see them in the wild. “Ask a member of the public whether storks should be in Britain, and I can almost guarantee you that if they’ve seen them at Knepp they would say ‘absolutely,’” she remarked.

The conversation surrounding the storks reflects wider discussions about conservation strategies and how best to restore species to areas where they may have once existed, balancing ecological science with public engagement and environmental considerations.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.