PREVIEW

Kent’s very own bison herd has celebrated its second birthday this July, two years on from the introduction of the beasts into the Blean Woods nature reserve. Over the past two years, the bison herd has grown to six, with the birth of a surprise calf, the arrival of a bull from Germany, and a winter birth of another male calf. The woodland now boasts a "New Forest feel" enriched by free-roaming Exmoor ponies, longhorn cattle, and Iron-Age pigs. These animals’ natural behaviours have shaped the landscape, boosted biodiversity, and enhanced climate resilience. Early monitoring results from West Blean have revealed intriguing findings, including the rediscovery of the fungus beetle 'Dissoleucas niverirostris,' not recorded in the UK since 1988. Evan Bowen-Jones says the project has been so successful they plan to allow the bison greater access to the woodland. As the UK navigates rapid changes, the success of the Wilder Blean project offers a hopeful glimpse into a future where nature’s resilience helps combat global challenges.