Wilder Blean Project celebrates World Rewilding Day with release of grazing animals - Kent Wildlife Trust
Exmoor ponies, Iron-age pigs and Long-horn cattle are roaming alongside wild bison following their release into woodland in Canterbury.
The ‘conservation grazers’ begun to arrive at West Blean and Thornden Woods just in time for World Re-Wilding Day, a global action to raise awareness of the benefits of wilder nature for wildlife people and the planet which takes place on 20th March 2023. The animals will now form part of a pioneering wilding project aimed at fighting the climate crisis and loss of biodiversity.
The Wilder Blean Project, is a joint initiative between the charities Kent Wildlife Trust and Wildwood Trust, with the first phase being made possible through funds raised by players of People’s Postcode Lottery awarded through the Dream Fund.
In July, three female bison were released into the woodland, and began to change the landscape around them. Straight away they de-barked trees, creating standing deadwood and making a home for invertebrates and bats. They also were seen dustbathing, creating sandpits loved by burrowing insects and the herd even began to tread down bracken, eat brambles and create corridors through the woodland, bringing light to the forest floor and making room for wildlife to thrive.
A few months later, in September, bison rangers welcomed the birth of the first wild bison calf to be born in the UK in thousands of years.
The arrival of the bull from Germany, who was long-delayed due to post-Brexit complications, provided an early Christmas present, as he finally made it to his herd on 23 December
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Posted On: 20/03/2023