Key Points
- London Wildlife Trust partners with Barking and Dagenham Council on ‘Rewilding East London‘ project to reintroduce white storks and beavers.
- White storks arrive at Eastbrookend Country Park in Dagenham in autumn 2026 (October 2026), marking first breeding population in London for 600 years since extinction in 1400s.
- Beavers scheduled for release in March 2027, following prior reintroduction in Ealing’s Greenford nature reserve in 2023.
- Project builds on wetland habitat restoration at Eastbrookend Country Park; includes purpose-built aviary for storks, with chicks released to establish breeding population.
- Funding totals £500,000 from Mayor of London’s Green Roots Fund, plus contributions from Barking and Dagenham Council and London Wildlife Trust.
- Storks support ecosystem by building nests for smaller birds and aiding feeding behaviours; beavers enhance wetlands.
- Site becomes second public white stork reintroduction project in UK, building on Sussex breeding success.
- Statements from Sam Davenport of London Wildlife Trust and Dominic Twomey of Barking and Dagenham Council highlight bold nature recovery vision.
White storks and beavers will return to East London after centuries of absence through a major rewilding initiative at Eastbrookend Country Park in Dagenham. London Wildlife Trust and Barking and Dagenham Council announced the ‘Rewilding East London’ project on 8 December 2025, securing significant funding to restore wetland habitats and boost biodiversity. This effort targets two iconic species extinct in Britain for hundreds of years, aiming to create self-sustaining populations visible to the public.
What is the Rewilding East London Project?
The ‘Rewilding East London’ initiative focuses on species recovery by reintroducing white storks (Ciconia ciconia) and European beavers to restored wetlands at Eastbrookend Country Park. As stated in the official announcement from London Wildlife Trust, the project expands important wetland habitats in Dagenham. A purpose-built aviary will initially house the white storks, allowing chicks to fledge before release into the wild to establish a breeding population.
London Wildlife Trust emphasised that storks build large nests providing habitats for smaller birds, while their feeding behaviours enhance ecosystem health. Beavers, known for creating wetland mosaics through dam-building, will follow to further support biodiversity. The partnership with Barking and Dagenham Council underscores local commitment to urban nature recovery.
When Will White Storks Arrive in East London?
White storks are expected on site in autumn 2026, specifically October 2026, as reported across multiple outlets. According to BBC News coverage, this reintroduction marks the first breeding colony in London for six centuries, since the birds vanished from Britain in the 1400s. Eastbrookend Country Park will become the second publicly accessible white stork project in the UK.
As detailed by the Wildlife Trusts, the aviary setup ensures safe acclimatisation before chicks contribute to a wild population. This timeline builds on successful reintroductions elsewhere, positioning Dagenham as a key site for public observation.
What Role Do Beavers Play in This Initiative?
Beavers will arrive in March 2027, complementing the stork efforts by engineering wetland habitats. BBC reporting notes their prior return to the capital in 2023 at a Greenford, Ealing nature reserve, proving viability in urban settings. London Wildlife Trust highlighted beavers’ role in ecosystem restoration through natural behaviours.
The phased approach—storks first, then beavers—maximises habitat synergy, with beavers’ dams fostering conditions ideal for wetland species. Barking and Dagenham Council’s X post celebrated the dual arrival at Eastbrookend, emphasising partnership pride.
How is the Project Funded?
Funding stands at £500,000 from the Mayor of London’s Green Roots Fund, supplemented by Barking and Dagenham Council and London Wildlife Trust contributions. As per BBC articles, this supports habitat works, aviary construction, and species releases. The Greater London Authority linked the project to broader green space investments, noting Round 2 applications open until 22 January 2026.
Sam Davenport, director of nature recovery at London Wildlife Trust, stated in BBC coverage:
“The return of white storks and beavers could motivate a bold future for nature recovery in the capital.”
Dominic Twomey, leader of Barking and Dagenham Council, added:
“The introduction of white storks in London builds upon the successful breeding project in Sussex.”
Why Were White Storks Extinct in Britain?
White storks became extinct as breeding birds in Britain around 1416, absent until recent reintroduction trials. Impactful Ninja reported their return after a 600-year gap, driven by habitat loss historically. Rewilding Britain references underscore their native Eurasian range and IUCN Least Concern status, but local extinction due to wetland drainage.
Citizen Zoo’s prior work mapped London habitats for storks, identifying enhancement opportunities like Eastbrookend. The Dagenham site revives these connections, with nests supporting birds like house sparrows.
What Benefits Do These Species Bring to East London?
Storks and beavers promise ecological uplift, with storks aerating soil via feeding and nests hosting invertebrates and birds. London Wildlife Trust noted:
“Their presence will support other wildlife in the area.”
Beavers improve water quality, flood resilience, and insect populations, as seen in Ealing.
Public access at Eastbrookend educates visitors, fostering community stewardship. LinkedIn posts from London Wildlife Trust amplified the project’s role in urban rewilding. Overall, the initiative counters biodiversity decline in one of London’s most industrialised zones.
Who Are the Key Partners Involved?
London Wildlife Trust leads alongside Barking and Dagenham Council, with Mayor’s Green Roots Fund backing. Wildlife Trusts’ announcement credited the duo for driving ‘Rewilding East London’. BBC credited London correspondents for on-site details.
Sam Davenport’s vision and Dominic Twomey’s endorsement highlight cross-sector collaboration. Additional support from groups like Citizen Zoo informs habitat strategies.
How Does This Fit Broader UK Rewilding Efforts?
This project aligns with UK successes, like Sussex stork breeding and west London beavers. As Twomey noted, it builds directly on those models. Rewilding Britain advocates storks as keystone species, with Dagenham advancing national goals.
Green Roots Fund’s role signals scalable funding, with winter 2026-27 tree planting encouraged. The initiative positions East London as a rewilding hub, inspiring similar urban projects nationwide.
