Joy to the Blean the bull has come, the herd received their king!

In a scene which could have been scripted for a Hollywood blockbuster, a family was united just in time for Christmas.

However, this family are in fact a herd of free-roaming European bison who have been brought together as part of a ground-breaking wilding initiative which aims to help tackle the biodiversity crisis. 

The Wilder Blean Project, which was made possible through a grant from Players of People’s Postcode Lottery Dream Fund, has already gained global recognition and has even caught the attention of actor and environmentalist Leonardo Dicaprio, who praised the initiative on his social media channels.

In July the project reached its first epic milestone when three female bison took their first steps into the ancient Canterbury woodland under the gaze of the world’s media, completely unaware of the significance of the moment. They were the founding members of the Wilder Blean Project herd, made up of a matriarch from Scotland and two younger females from Ireland, missing from the group was the bull who was delayed in Germany due to paperwork issues. It was hoped he would be arriving in August.

Whilst the team continued to hurdle the barriers placed in front of them by post-Brexit legislation and other animal import issues surrounding the bull, an unexpected but welcomed development awaited Wilder Blean staff. Bison Rangers Tom Gibbs and Donovan Wright discovered that one of the females from Ireland had given birth to a beautiful calf, it was a surprise as bison conceal their pregnancies as a protection mechanism against predators. This historic moment, of the UK’s first free-roaming bison calf to be born in thousands of years, marked yet another breakthrough for this pioneering project. 

The herd had initially been placed into a small area of the woodland so they could be observed for welfare reasons. They had been doing well, foraging for themselves and finding water, and in November the gates of West Blean Woods were opened to the bison giving them free-roam of 50 hectares. Fundraising is in place to raise money to build tunnels that will give the herd free-range of 200 hectares of forest.

Bison Ranger Donovan Wright was on hand to capture the moment that the herd made their first steps into the 50 hectare area, later saying: “It was an incredible moment, the matriarch led the younger females into their new home, making a beeline for the sweet chestnut trees and tucking in right away.”

As time went on it seemed unlikely the herd would be complete in 2022, however the tenacious efforts of the team were rewarded when a breakthrough moment finally resulted in the paperwork being given the thumbs up and the bull was transported into the Blean just in time for Christmas on 23rd December. 

Catching his scent in the air, the females patiently waited in the corral until the gates slid open and they cautiously set foot into the woodland as a completed herd for the first time. The docile temperament of the animals made for a rather understated moment, as they sniffed, nuzzled and ate together before retreating into the woodland. 

Now a fully formed herd the bison will now be left to roam the woodland and take on their role as eco-system engineers, where they will help to re-shape the landscape, encouraging new wildlife to grow through their natural behaviors. By de-barking trees, dust-bathing and creating corridors through the dense woodland they bring light to the forest floor, making space for wildlife to thrive. 

Mark Habben, Wildwood Trust, Director of Zoological Operations said: "It's been incredible to see our vision come to life this year and to witness huge milestones such as the herd taking their first steps into the woods and the unexpected, but very welcome, arrival of the calf.

"I'm enormously proud of the team and all the work that has gone into getting us to this point, despite the red tape we've had to navigate and complications arising from Brexit.

"The arrival of the bull marks the start of the Wilder Blean journey in earnest and it's incredibly fitting that it coincides with a new year. I can't wait to see what the next twelve months will bring for this important project."

Stan Smith, Kent Wildlife Trust, Wilder Landscapes Manager said: “The impact on the woodland forms part of a huge baseline monitoring programme, comparing and contrasting how the animals impact their part of the woodland, and we believe we will be able to show just how bison are engineering their environment, performing a role that no other quite can. 

“We want to demonstrate that a hands-off nature-based solution exists to combat the climate and biodiversity crises we face and intend that the Wilder Blean Project will become a blueprint for other organisations to take forward.”  

Laura Chow, Head of Charities at People’s Postcode Lottery, said: “It’s great to see our Dream Fund winner deliver this innovative approach to tackle climate change locally. With the arrival of the bull bison making the family complete, the herd can bond together and get on with the job of boosting biodiversity in the West Blean and Thorden Woods.”