As a young volunteer, I have to balance my time between schoolwork and extra-curricular activities, but starting an EPQ has enabled me to do both at the same time! Despite taking Biology at A-level, conservation is rarely spoken about, so my interests and the curriculum seldom intersect. I often think what a shame it is that the GCSE in Natural History has not been implemented yet. However, I now have a chance to conduct a research project of my own, not just for myself, but for my future as well.

My primary case study is the White Stork Project, an ongoing scheme which aims to re-establish a population of at least 50 breeding pairs of white storks in the south of England by 2030. Before 2020, it had been over 600 years since white storks were last recorded to have bred in the UK, which is widely thought to be because of persecution and habitat loss. The 6^th of May 2022 marked the 2-year anniversary of the hatching of the first chicks since then.

The storks, originally from Warsaw Zoo in Poland, are transferred to release sites in the south-east, where they live in pens until they are fully released into the wild. The pens are important, as they allow the storks to form a homing instinct and migrate back each summer. The release locations include Wadhurst Park (East Sussex), Wintershall Estate (Surrey), and Knepp Estate (West Sussex) – the primary site of the project. Knepp has recently introduced a live feed of the storks, which you can watch here!

Knepp Estate is one of the country’s main hubs for rewilding – and you can see why! What used to be intensively farmed cattle and crop fields is now 3500 acres of beautiful ancient woodland, scrubland and grassland, which attracts many visitors each year.

Next month, I plan to go there, in the hope of seeing one of the white storks in the wild. I am really looking forward to this, not only because my project will benefit greatly, but also because there is the chance of seeing other rare British birds, such as the turtle dove. I have never had the privilege of seeing or hearing one before, due to their rapid decline of 93% since the 70s – but I have my fingers crossed that Knepp will deliver! They have also recorded breeding nightingales, lesser-spotted woodpeckers and peregrine falcons, among others. A black stork was even spotted passing through – twice! Rewilding projects like this really ignite my passion for conservation, and make me hopeful for the future.

Another important site for the White Stork Project is the Cotswold Wildlife Park, where the storks from Warsaw Zoo are bred before transferral to Knepp, Wadhurst or Wintershall. I recently went there to speak to a member of staff, to gain more useful information for my EPQ.

During this interview, I learned all about the park’s role in the project, from the logistics of moving storks across the country, to the role they play in community engagement. I also learned that the park played a part in the reintroduction of the Great Bustard to the UK – conveniently another of my case studies!

One of the park’s biggest challenges with the stork project is simply keeping the storks happy in their enclosure. As they can be quite sensitive birds, the keepers make sure to stick to the same feeding routine every day, and even walk along the same path each time. Eventually, the storks become used to human presence. This is particularly important during the breeding season, when keepers may have to assist feed chicks – you don’t want an angry parent stork on your tail!

Of course, the storks do not stay at the park forever. The ones which are transported to the release sites are weighed and ringed (or microchipped) at the park, put into specially made stork-transporting boxes, and then loaded into a van or a horse trailer and driven to their destination. The original storks from Poland, however, are not so easy to transport. The increase in fuel prices and requirement to fill in more forms after Brexit has made it much harder to transport animals overseas, not just for the Cotswold Wildlife Park, but for zoos across the country.

Luckily, this is not a major setback for the park or the project as a whole – far from it. The White Stork Project is currently thriving, with 2022 set to be a record-breaking year. 9 out of 12 nests at Knepp have chicks (as of the 24^th of May), bringing the total number of chicks this year to 29!

Both the wildlife park and Knepp are excelling at community engagement; they recognise the importance of people knowing about British wildlife and what it can do for everyday people, particularly young people. During the Children’s Parade at the Brighton Festival, a huge model of a white stork (“Shirley”), created by local schoolchildren, soared elegantly down the streets. Knepp’s live camera is also helping to spread the word.

Hopefully, one day, storks will become a common sight everywhere in the UK – including Herefordshire!