Among the attendees were Laura and Becca from the White Stork Project who took part in the conference after the project was accepted into the European Stork Villages Network for the first time last year. Laura delivered a presentation outlining how the White Stork Project has developed over the past year, sharing recent achievements, conservation progress, and future ambitions. The trip provided an excellent opportunity for collaboration, knowledge-sharing, and strengthening connections with conservation partners from across the continent.

The international gathering included the traditional White Stork Festival in Belozem, which brought together residents and visitors in a celebration dedicated to nature and local traditions. Filled with music, positive energy, and activities for all ages, the festival transformed Belozem into a symbol of coexistence between people and white storks. The event demonstrated how a local conservation cause can unite communities from different countries around the shared goal of protecting nature. As children performed traditional dances on stage, white storks soared overhead, returning to their nesting sites on top of the local primary school.

The meeting was a huge success and highlighted how international cooperation can successfully bring communities together in support of nature conservation and a more sustainable future. It gave us a lot of food for thought for our upcoming Festival in Storrington, and what to aim for in future years.