Britain brought back wild bison after 6,000 years; their grazing could reshape forests and create new habitats for other wildlife | World News

Wild bison have not been seen in Britain for around 6,000 years. European bison are now roaming West Blean and Thornden Woods near Canterbury as part of an ambitious conservation project to restore natural woodland processes. As per BBC, it once roamed widely across the continent, from Scotland to Siberia, before disappearing from the wild in the early 20th Century.Bringing these animals back to Britain is more than restoring a species that has been gone for thousands of years. Their grazing and movement through the woodland can help restore ecological processes that have been missing from Britain for generations.

How is the ‘Blean Bison Project’ bringing bison back to Britain

The return of European bison to Britain is being led by the Blean Bison Project in West Blean and Thornden Woods near Canterbury. Wildwood Trust and Kent Wildlife Trust launched the project in 2019 with the aim of restoring natural woodland processes. The idea is to allow bison and other conservation grazers to influence the landscape through their everyday behaviour. European bison are described as a keystone species and ecosystem engineer because their movements can alter habitats around them. The project seeks to create a healthier and more biodiverse woodland by allowing natural processes to play a greater role in shaping the environment.

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How do bison help create new habitats in the woodland

European bison can transform their surroundings simply through the way they live. Their grazing and movements can change vegetation and create varied spaces within woodland. As bison move through the woodland, their size and behaviour can gradually change the landscape around them. They also rub against trees and strip bark, which produces dead wood that can provide habitats for woodpeckers, bats and fungi. These areas can become suitable for insects, wildflowers and sand lizards. Their activity can also open up the woodland canopy, which can allow more sunlight to reach the forest floor and create the conditions for dormant seeds to grow.

How did the bison population grow in the Blean woodland

The Blean herd began to take shape in 2022, when the first four adult bison arrived from wildlife parks in Scotland, Ireland and Germany. The matriarch reached the woodland from a wildlife park in Scotland in July, followed by two females from Fota Wildlife Park in Ireland. A bull then arrived from Sababurg Wildlife Park in December.The arrival of the adults was soon followed by the birth of a new generation. ‘Female Two’ gave birth to the first Blean calf in September 2022. In November 2023, the matriarch gave birth to another calf, marking another step in the herd’s growth. From the four adults that arrived in 2022, the herd has therefore grown through a series of successful births, establishing a breeding population in the woodland.

Why is the return of bison important for Britain’s wildlife

Wildwood Trust describes European bison as a keystone species whose behaviour can create complex habitats for other wildlife. Their activities include grazing, seed dispersal, trampling and nutrient cycling. The project also links this approach to wider concerns about declining biodiversity and the need for more natural woodland management. The Blean herd has already produced an important milestone. The male calf born in November 2023 was the first wild bison to be conceived and born in the UK for thousands of years, marking another stage in the species’ return.