For the first time in centuries, white storks are poised to make a return to London, following the approval of plans by leaders in Dagenham.
Eastbrookend Country Park will serve as the new habitat for these storks, while The Chase nature reserve will introduce a colony of beavers.
Both beavers and white storks were originally indigenous to Britain but faced extinction due to excessive hunting in the 15th and 16th centuries.
Saima Ashraf, the deputy leader of Barking and Dagenham Council, described their introduction to the borough as a “bold and historic moment.”
She remarked, “This presents a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to witness nature’s resurgence right in your own neighborhood.”
To facilitate their reintroduction, the council has collaborated with the London Wildlife Trust, emphasizing that these two green spaces are “remarkable sites” conducive to supporting the return of these species.
The partnership has acquired funding from City Hall, the government, and corporate sponsors to support this initiative.
A custom-built aviary featuring grassland areas at Eastbrookend Country Park will accommodate the reintroduced white storks, with the chicks eventually released to foster a new breeding population in the area.
The beavers are slated for release into a lakeside enclosure encompassing 16 acres of open water and several small islands at The Chase in March 2027.
This follows a successful beaver reintroduction at an enclosure in Paradise Fields, Greenford, in October 2023.
Councillor Ashraf stated that the funding would also support the hiring of a new species recovery officer to facilitate nature walks, school visits, and volunteer programs.
She assured that the initiative would incur “no cost to the local taxpayer,” as reported by the Local Democracy Reporting Service.
Ashraf expressed her enthusiasm to the cabinet, saying, “I’m thrilled because we’ll have the chance to observe wild beavers constructing dams in our local park. You’ll also be able to see white storks nurturing their chicks.”
She added, “We will offer free guided walks and workshops, creating wonderful educational opportunities for schools and the community, while transforming our park into a wilder, greener space teeming with life.”
