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conservation: Beavers and White Storks Poised for a Historic Return to East London

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11 December 2025 
Special Feature By James Hamilton

Beaver by Nick Upton / Cornwall Wildlife Trust

​A landmark chapter in London’s natural history is unfolding at Eastbrookend Country Park, where beavers and white storks are set to return after centuries away.

Rewilding East London — a new species recovery initiative led by London Wildlife Trust and Barking & Dagenham Council, with support from the Mayor of London — aims to bring these charismatic native animals back to the capital and transform the local landscape into a thriving haven for wildlife.

Bringing Wild London Back to Life
This ambitious project is more than a reintroduction; it’s a vision of a greener, wilder future for the city. By restoring key species once native to East London, the programme will boost biodiversity, improve local wellbeing, and strengthen connections between people and nature.
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Set within the vast wetland expanses of Eastbrookend Country Park, the project builds on years of habitat restoration. The park’s rejuvenated wetlands now provide the perfect setting for these returning species: white storks are expected to arrive in autumn 2026, followed by beavers the next year.

White Storks: A Soaring Symbol of Renewal
A purpose-built aviary will welcome the returning storks, with hopes of establishing a new breeding population for East London. Their towering nests become miniature ecosystems in themselves, sheltering smaller birds and enriching the surrounding environment through their natural foraging behaviour.

Beavers: London’s New Ecosystem Engineers
The beavers — once widespread across the UK — will move into a publicly accessible, naturalistic enclosure containing two lakes. Under licence from Natural England, these remarkable ecosystem shapers will transform the wetland landscape as they build dams and lodges. The habitats they create will support an extraordinary mix of life, from wetland plants and insects to fish, birds, bats, and small mammals.

A Community at the Heart of Rewilding
Rewilding East London places local people at its centre. An extensive community programme will give residents, families, and schools the opportunity to learn about these species and witness their return first-hand. The project aims to inspire pride and spark a renewed relationship between Londoners and the wildlife on their doorstep — encouraging a city that welcomes nature back in.

Voices Behind the Vision
Sam Davenport, Director of Nature Recovery at London Wildlife Trust, describes the reintroductions as “a catalyst for wider ecological restoration, helping to build a greener, more resilient London for generations to come.”

Councillor Dominic Twomey, Leader of Barking & Dagenham Council, celebrates the partnership behind the project, noting that the return of these animals will “transform how people experience nature in Barking and Dagenham… It’s about giving families, schools, and community groups the chance to be part of something inspiring and hopeful.”

Deputy Mayor for Environment and Energy, Mete Coban, adds: “Access to nature is a social justice issue… We want to ensure all Londoners can experience the brilliant green spaces and wildlife in this city.”
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The project is supported by the Derek Gow Consultancy and the Beaver Trust.

White stork by Derek Gow Consultancy

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