Wild bison have not roamed the UK landscape in 6,000 years… however that is set to change in the spring of 2022, when a small herd – three females and one male – will be released into a Kent woodland. It is hoped that not only will the project help the endangered species, but will also help to ‘rewild’ an area of woodland and open glades by naturally ‘killing’ trees by eating the bark and restoring soil nutrients. As trees fall, this creates further food and habitat for birds and insects.
The bison will be European bison, the largest land mammal in Europe, and will likely be flown into the UK from Poland or the Netherlands where successful re-introductions have already been implemented. They are known as a ‘keystone’ species, and will help to restore the natural processes of nature that would have occurred thousands of years ago.
You can learn more about rewilding as a solution from our Planetary experts under our learn tab!
