Environmentalists are celebrating the success of a pioneering rewilding project, highlighting “the incredible power of nature to heal.”

In July 2022, three female bison were released into the countryside near Canterbury, Kent, as part of an effort to restore the natural environment. Two years later, their population has doubled, significantly impacting the Blean and Thornden woods, home to the UK’s only free-roaming bison herd.

This historic collaboration between the Kent Wildlife Trust and Wildwood Trust has been praised as “a story of hope.” Since the initial release, the project has expanded to include a bull bison and two newborn calves. Additionally, Iron Age pigs, Exmoor ponies, and longhorn cattle have been introduced to the area.

The monitoring program has even rediscovered species previously believed extinct.

Bison ranger Hannah Mackins said: “The reserve is teeming with life in areas that were once in darkness, and you can feel a renewed energy in the woodland.

“Everywhere you look, there are success stories of nature’s resilience – from seeing dung beetle larvae to the monitoring programme discovering species of insects we thought were extinct.

“This project shows the incredible power of nature to heal and gives us hope for the future.”

The project has earned three national awards: The Big Biodiversity Challenge, a National Sustainability Award, and a Global Good Award.

Future plans include working with the RSPB and Woodland Trust to create wildlife corridors across Canterbury, connecting the Blean landscape. To enhance visitor experience, giant bison bridges are being installed, allowing people to walk above the free-roaming animals.

Visitors can join a bison safari with a ranger, and the reserve has been shortlisted for two tourism awards.

According to Ms. Mackins, Blean’s success has inspired everyone, from the general public to dedicated conservationists.

She said: “It’s remarkable to see how this project has sparked a passion for wildlife in people who may not have been interested in the nature reserve before.”

The project has also inspired a children’s book, The Bison and the Butterfly, by Alice Hemmings.

Ms Mackins added: “Wilder Blean is more than just a conservation effort; it’s a story of hope unfolding right in front of us.”

 

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