Bringing Storks Back to Storrington and the South of England!
Storrington has a unique and exciting connection to a ground-breaking conservation effort: the White Stork Project!
This ambitious initiative aims to restore a population of breeding White Storks to the South of England, 600 years after they last nested in Britain. The project site at the Knepp Estate, just a few miles north of Storrington, is one of the key locations for this rewilding effort.
As of 2025 we are proud to announce that the White Stork Project has become part of the European Stork Villages Network (ESVN), as Knepp and Storrington are announced the UK’s only ‘Stork Village’. More can be found out from the ESVN website here: European Stork Villages Network
What is the White Stork Project?
The project is a partnership between private landowners and conservation charities, working together to establish a sustainable breeding population of White Storks (Ciconia ciconia) in the UK. The goal is to see these magnificent birds return to our skies and wetlands, enriching our local biodiversity.
If you live in or around Storrington, you are in the heart of this historic reintroduction, and you might be lucky enough to spot a White Stork soaring overhead!
Why is this important to Storrington?
The successful reintroduction of White Storks highlights the excellent health and conservation status of our local landscape, particularly the Knepp Wildland Project. As local residents, we are privileged to witness this incredible conservation success story unfold right on our doorstep!
In honour of achieving European Stork Village status, we now hold an annual White Stork and Nature Festival sponsored and hosted by Storrington and Sullington Parish Council which takes place at the beginning of the stork breeding season.
Explore the Project:
key features on the WhiteStorkProject.org website
To learn more about the storks, the conservation work, and how you can get involved, we encourage you to visit the official website. Here are some of the most popular features:
- White Stork Tracking: Follow the incredible migratory journeys of the individual storks with GPS trackers! See exactly where they are and the distances they travel.
- Live Nest Cams: During the breeding season (usually spring/summer), you can watch the nesting activity live from the Knepp Rewilding Project. It’s a fascinating look into their family life!
- Latest News & Sightings: Keep up-to-date with project milestones, new arrivals, and submit your own sightings if you spot a stork locally. Your sighting helps the team monitor the population! All stork sightings are useful, but particularly reports that include ring numbers so we can ID the birds.
- Support the Project: The White Stork Project is dependent on support. Find out how you can donate, adopt a stork, or volunteer your time.
- Email: whitestorksgb@gmail.com
Visit the official website for the full story: www.WhiteStorkProject.org