Wilder Blean
Restoring natural processes and keystone species to one of the UKs largest ancient woodland
Kent Wildlife Trust have been managing West Blean and Thornden Woods for the past 18 years. It is a site of Special Scientific Interest for the rare invertebrate assemblage it contains and is an ancient woodland covering 560 hectares. It is part of the much larger blean landscape, the largest area of ancient woodland in Southern England covering around 30 km^2. We have been using extensive grazing techniques on site for more than 10 years using (in the past) Highland cattle and more recently with Konik ponies. Until last year the woodland grazing area covered approximately 150 hectares. However now due to renewed investment and much larger vison working in partnership with the Wildwood Trust we are bringing 460 hectares of land under extensive grazing management using Exmoor ponies, Longhorn Cattle, Iron-age pigs and (in a first for the UK) European Bison to restore ecosystem function. The expanded area is being fenced and the animals should all be in place by spring of 2022. In recent years we have also developed partnerships with neighboring woodland owning organisations to enable the landscape to increase in connectivity.
The project strategy includes new nature-based enterprises to support on-going funding requirements, provide new education opportunities and to support new jobs. This includes guided nature walks and safaris alongside educational visits. It is anticipated that the project will have a positive impact on local businesses, including hotels, campsites, local shops and B&Bs as a result of increased visitor numbers.
• Sweet chestnut plantation
• Corsican pine plantation
• Open heathy areas
• Birch scrub
In the UK, lack of woodland management is one of the eight biggest drivers of species decline. Wilder Blean aims to bring transformational change through a controlled trial with bison; a missing keystone species that is able to naturally manage woodlands. A key part of this project will be extensive consultation and engagement with local landowners, interest groups and residents who know and love this area.
European bison are being used in this project because they are ecosystem engineers, meaning that they are able to change their environment through their natural behaviours. Bison can change woodlands in a way that no other animal can, they eat bark and create dust baths which each have benefits for many plants and animals, these are functions that have been missing from our UK woodlands for thousands of years and bringing them back can help restore an abundance of wildlife.
Our overall aim is the restoration of natural processes to a lowland English woodland. This will be achieved through 4 main objectives.
1. A large herbivore assemblage reintroduced to the woodland as ecosystem engineers.
2. By creating a more biodiverse, resilient ecosystem.
3. By people at all levels becoming advocates for the project.
4. By creating a model for the rest of the UK, based on international best practice.
Kent Wildlife Trust have been managing West Blean and Thornden Woods for the past 18 years. It is a site of Special Scientific Interest for the rare invertebrate assemblage it contains and is an ancient woodland covering 560 hectares. It is part of the much larger blean landscape, the largest area of ancient woodland in Southern England covering around 30 km^2. We have been using extensive grazing techniques on site for more than 10 years using (in the past) Highland cattle and more recently with Konik ponies. Until last year the woodland grazing area covered approximately 150 hectares. However now due to renewed investment and much larger vison working in partnership with the Wildwood Trust we are bringing 460 hectares of land under extensive grazing management using Exmoor ponies, Longhorn Cattle, Iron-age pigs and (in a first for the UK) European Bison to restore ecosystem function. The expanded area is being fenced and the animals should all be in place by spring of 2022. In recent years we have also developed partnerships with neighboring woodland owning organisations to enable the landscape to increase in connectivity.
The project strategy includes new nature-based enterprises to support on-going funding requirements, provide new education opportunities and to support new jobs. This includes guided nature walks and safaris alongside educational visits. It is anticipated that the project will have a positive impact on local businesses, including hotels, campsites, local shops and B&Bs as a result of increased visitor numbers.
• Sweet chestnut plantation
• Corsican pine plantation
• Open heathy areas
• Birch scrub
In the UK, lack of woodland management is one of the eight biggest drivers of species decline. Wilder Blean aims to bring transformational change through a controlled trial with bison; a missing keystone species that is able to naturally manage woodlands. A key part of this project will be extensive consultation and engagement with local landowners, interest groups and residents who know and love this area.
European bison are being used in this project because they are ecosystem engineers, meaning that they are able to change their environment through their natural behaviours. Bison can change woodlands in a way that no other animal can, they eat bark and create dust baths which each have benefits for many plants and animals, these are functions that have been missing from our UK woodlands for thousands of years and bringing them back can help restore an abundance of wildlife.
Our overall aim is the restoration of natural processes to a lowland English woodland. This will be achieved through 4 main objectives.
1. A large herbivore assemblage reintroduced to the woodland as ecosystem engineers.
2. By creating a more biodiverse, resilient ecosystem.
3. By people at all levels becoming advocates for the project.
4. By creating a model for the rest of the UK, based on international best practice.