When Europe’s heaviest land mammals (Bison) were placed into the UK’s First Bison Bridges, in a forest area near Canterbury, the hope was that they would thrive and make room for other animals. This rewilding effort has been so effective that further measures are now being implemented to support the rising population of European bison.

The Need for UK’s First Bison Bridges

The European bison have thrived in West Blean and Thornden Woods to the point where more space is required. Britain’s first “bison bridges” are being built to accomplish this. Four bridges, totalling £1 million, will allow bison designated as dangerous wild animals under UK legislation to securely cross public footpaths without interacting with people. These gigantic mammals, which may weigh up to a tonne, will pass beneath the bridges, while footpaths will be channelled above, providing visitors with a clear view of the bison while maintaining safety.

The bison herd was released into the Canterbury woodlands in July 2022 as part of a pioneering restoration program led by the Kent Wildlife Trust and the Wildwood Trust. Unbeknownst to the team, one of the three female bison was already pregnant and gave birth to a calf shortly after. A male bison from Germany was later brought, and a second calf was born, bringing the herd’s total to six. Since their release, the bison have travelled across 50 hectares (123 acres) of woods. The new bridges, supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund and other donors, will allow the herd to spread across 200 hectares of forest.

Bison as Ecosystem Engineers

Bison, like free-roaming pigs and ponies, play an important role in the Wilder Blean project, helping to develop more biodiversity and natural woods. They promote the formation of a carbon-storing forest by breaking up old conifer plantations. The European bison, a cousin of the extinct steppe bison, went extinct in the wild in 1927 but has since been reintroduced through captive breeding operations throughout Europe. Today, free-range bison herds thrive in Germany, Switzerland, and Poland.

Bison are regarded as ecosystem engineers because of their distinct environmental impact because:

• Grazing Patterns: Bison’s grazing habits promote plant diversity by preventing any one species from dominating, which maintains the balance of grassland ecosystems.
• Seed Dispersal: As they move across large areas, bison help disperse seeds through their fur and dung, facilitating plant growth in various regions.
• Soil Disturbance: Bison hooves naturally disturb the soil, which helps in nutrient cycling, aeration, and creating microhabitats for other organisms like insects and plants.
• Water Source Creation: Bison often wallow in mud to cool down and deter pests, creating depressions that later collect rainwater. These small ponds provide habitats for various species.
• Habitat for Other Species: The presence of bison influences the landscape in ways that create environments for other species, such as birds, insects, and small mammals.
• Fertilization through Dung: Bison dung adds organic matter to the soil, enriching it with nutrients and supporting the growth of grasses and other plants, contributing to soil health.

Bison also help with carbon sequestration. In Romania’s Southern Carpathian highlands, where 170 bison have been reintroduced since 2014, the animals’ presence has enhanced carbon sequestration by around 54,000 tonnes per year—nearly tenfold more than without them.

Challenges and Future of Bison Reintroduction in the United Kingdom

While the Kent Wildlife Trust believes that the success of this UK’s First Bison Bridges project will inspire similar programs across the country, conservationists warn that bison are legally classified as dangerous wild species, making reintroduction costly. For example, 27 kilometres of fencing and bison bridges are needed to avoid public interaction in the Blean Woods. In contrast, countries like the Netherlands allow bison to interact freely with the public in similar rewilding programs.

Simon Bateman-Brown of the Kent Wildlife Trust emphasised the significance of new conservation strategies: “Our wildlife is in trouble, and we need to think differently about how we deliver conservation projects in the UK.” The Wilder Blean effort is a groundbreaking proof of concept that paves the way for others to follow.

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