A Wild way forward with bison bridges

A painting of elephants in a fenced in area

If you make a trip to West Blean and Thornden Woods soon, make sure you wander over the UK’s first bison bridges! These impressive structures mark a major milestone in the Wilder Blean project, an ambitious wilding initiative transforming Kent’s ancient woodland on the outskirts of Canterbury.

A bold vision for a wilder landscape

The bison bridges will allow the UK’s first wild bison herd in thousands of years to roam across 200 hectares of the woodland, expanding from the initial 50 hectares where they have been thriving since their release in July 2022.

Construction of the first two bridges began in September 2023 and was completed within six months.

Ecosystem engineers

European bison are back at West Blean and Thornden Woods as part of a bold project led by Kent Wildlife Trust and Wildwood Trust. The goal? To boost biodiversity through the bison’s natural behaviours, which

shape the environment and help it become more resilient to climate change. Often called “ecosystem engineers,” bison are experts in maintaining and enhancing ecosystems. By stripping bark, bison create standing deadwood that supports insects, birds and bats. Their dust baths attract burrowing insects, and because of their size, they can push through dense vegetation, opening up light and space for wildlife to flourish.

The impact of bison on ecosystems is profound. In Romania, a similar project with a herd of 170 bison captured as much CO2 as 84,000 cars produce.

Meeting challenges with innovation

The bridges address a unique challenge. UK law classifies European bison as dangerous wild animals, so 43 kilometers of fencing surround the bison’s habitat to keep them separate from the public. However, this fencing cut across a network of footpaths that crisscross the woodland. The bridges provide an innovative solution. Visitors can now stroll safely above while bison roam freely underneath, giving them more space to fully inhabit their rewilded home. The bridges also provide an elevated viewpoint, giving visitors the chance to spot these majestic animals in their natural habitat.

A collective effort

The £1 million cost of the bison bridges was made possible through generous funding from a range of sources. The National Lottery Heritage Fund contributed nearly a quarter of a million pounds, with additional support from the National Highways Environment and Wellbeing Designated Fund under the Network for Nature programme. Contributions also came from The Michael Uren Foundation, Veolia Environmental Trust, Garfield Weston Foundation, and private donors.

A group of people walking across a bridge

Visitors will be able to stroll safetly above while bison roam freely underneath. © Russell Perry Visual Studio

A transformative project

The Wilder Blean project, led by Kent Wildlife Trust and Wildwood Trust, is more than just a conservation project – it’s a proof-of-concept initiative showing how we can tackle the biodiversity crisis using nature-based solutions.

Simon Bateman Brown, Head of Land Management at Kent Wildlife Trust summed up the excitement: “Our wildlife is in trouble, and we need to think differently about conservation. While the need for fencing and bridges presents challenges to rewilding projects, they allow us to demonstrate what can be achieved and advocate for change. Bison are no more dangerous than domestic cattle and, in other parts of the world, roam freely in public areas.

In the future, we hope to use electric fencing to manage the herd. But for that, we need UK laws to adapt to the realities of rewilding.”

The completion of the bison bridges is a significant step towards realising the Wilder Blean Initiative. This collaborative effort, involving landowners, conservationists, and organisations like the Woodland Trust and RSPB, seeks to secure the wider Blean complex’s future as a haven for wildlife and a destination for visitors to enjoy its scenic beauty. By harnessing natural processes, the Initiative aims to create a thriving ecosystem in one of England’s most densely populated regions.

The bison bridges symbolise what can be achieved through innovation, collaboration and a shared commitment to nature. They’re an invitation for other groups to think boldly. For visitors, the bridges offer an extraordinary chance to connect with nature, witness the transformative power of wilding and catch a glimpse of these wonderful animals in action.

Learn more

A field of white flowers with green leaves

Wood Anemone © Mark Hamblin

Your wild Spring

Wood anemone (Anemonoides nemorosa)

The wood anemone is one of spring’s opening acts, blooming with enough time to absorb the sunlight before the canopy becomes too dense. They are a part of the Ranunculaceae (buttercup) family and grow from rhizomes, horizontal underground stems, that allow their slow growth. Other common names include the ‘windflower’ and the ‘smell fox’.

How to Identify

Growing up to 25cm tall, wood anemones are easily identifiable by their star-shaped flowers. Their six to seven large, white ‘petals’ (which are actually sepals) are offset by startlingly bright yellow anthers, making them difficult to miss. The flowers sit atop a thin, red stem and its basal leaves are deeply lobed.

Where to see it

The wood anemone is one of many ancient woodland indicators.

Ancient woodlands are incredible habitats, evolving and maturing for many hundreds and thousands of years. Alongside the wood anemone, you’ll find other flowering species like wild garlic, red campion, primroses, and of course the iconic bluebell, all giving a nod to the age of the woodland. You will find these dainty flowers popping up in woodlands like Potters Wood at Queendown and Cromers Wood between the months of March to May. They thrive in coppiced areas, as this form of traditional management allows sunlight to give life to wood anemones and so much more fauna and flora on the forest floor.

Conservation Status

While wood anemones are not under a direct threat, ancient woodlands are, and they need our protection now more than ever.

Did you know

The wood anemone is named after the Greek wind god, Anemos, who sent his namesakes, the anemones, in early spring to herald his coming. The legend gives the flower its other common name of ‘windflower’.

Updates from our Reserve

As winter’s chill fades, spring bursts with birdsong and amazing displays of colour in our meadows and woodlands. Our reserves are beginning to buzz, not only with wildlife, but – more people are starting to visit too.

A forest filled with lots of green trees

1. Hunstead Woods

Introduced from Asia by the Victorians, rhododendron has since spread rapidly through our woodlands, smothering out native wildlife. At Hunstead Wood, our Blean Warden and volunteers worked tirelessly to cut down and dig up huge amounts of this plant. In time, we hope native woodland and wetland plants will recover.

A herd of black sheep standing on top of a grass covered field

2. The Gill

Sheep have shortened the turf at the Gill, and volunteers have cleared the aggressive bramble alongside new warden Pierre. Some spring grazing by our mountain sheep will help create dense, mixed edges benefiting the insects, small mammals and birds this little oasis supports.

A grassy area with trees and bushes in the foreground

3. East Blean

Woodland coppicing involves cutting multi-stemmed trees so they can regrow quickly in the following years. In East Blean Woods we focus on sweet chestnut trees and are eagerly awaiting spring’s burst of wood spurge, red campion and cow wheat - the vital and only food plant of the rare heath fritillary butterfly.

Kentish Milkwort © Steven Weeks

4. Holborough

After successfully reintroducing Kentish milkwort to Queendown Warren, we are working with the Species Recovery Trust again to introduce this rare plant to another site in the Medway area. We hope that these seedlings will flourish, bolstering the population of this true Kentish treasure.

A stream running through a forest filled with lots of trees

5. Using water on our reserves as a Nature-based Solution

Our nature reserves are not just havens for wildlife – they also play a vital role in water management, combatting floods, drought and pollution. Many reserves act like sponges, absorbing, filtering, and storing water. Wetlands like Ham Fen reduce flood risks by slowing water runoff and holding excess rainwater, reducing pressure on urban drainage systems.

Forests within reserves stabilise soils, prevent erosion, and promote groundwater recharge. Vegetation naturally filters pollutants, improving water quality and supporting aquatic ecosystems. These sustainable, cost-effective processes are nature’s alternatives to industrial infrastructure. Inspired by beavers, we have even built leaky dams across channels to slow water flow and hold more water in preparation for increasingly hot summers.

Our wetland sites also store carbon. Sites like Hothfield Heathlands and Ham Fen rely on saturated soils to build peat, which, when carefully managed, locks up carbon permanently.

Our reserves not only protect wildlife but are essential as part of a natural system that benefits both people and the planet.

Visitors notice

As the warmer weather entices people from their homes to explore our wonderful nature reserves, we’d like to remind everyone that these are places where wildlife lives. Please stick to paths and take notice of any signage. Thank you!

A black bird sitting on top of a wooden post

blackbird © Bob Coyle

6 ground nesting birds to see in Kent this Spring

While many birds call trees their home, Kent is also home to a wonderful variety of ground-nesting birds found across almost every habitat. From skylarks and lapwings in our meadows to woodlarks and nightjars in our woodlands and heathlands, these birds are vital to their ecosystems. Sadly, many are vulnerable and often listed as species under threat.

See the Spectacle for yourself in Kent...

A small bird perched on top of a wooden post

1. Eurasian skylark (Alauda arvensis)

The Eurasian skylark is a well camouflaged bird and nests in open fields, grasslands, and farmland. It constructs its nest in the ground, typically hidden in long grass or crop fields and will lay between three to five eggs. Skylarks are famous for their aerial displays, especially during the breeding season.

Found in: Grassland sites

2. Nightingale (Luscinia megarhynchos)

Nightingales build their nests in dense vegetation close to the ground, often in brambles or tall grass. Known for their beautiful, powerful songs, nightingales are primarily ground-feeding, foraging for insects, worms, and spiders.

Found in: Woodland and scrub

3. Blackbird (Turdus merula)

This common garden bird often nests near the ground in dense shrubs, low hedgerows, or thick vegetation. The female builds a cup-shaped nest using twigs, mud, and grass, cleverly hiding it from predators. Blackbirds feed on the ground, foraging for insects, worms, and berries.

Found in: Gardens, parks and woodlands

4. Nightjar (Caprimulgus europaeus)

Nightjars are nocturnal birds which make shallow scrapes for nests, often covered with twigs and leaves for camouflage. At night, they hunt insects, especially moths, by catching them mid-flight with their wide mouths. These mysterious birds bring a quiet magic to dark heathlands.

Found in: Recently coppiced woodland or heathland

A bird standing in a field of green grass

5. Lapwing (Vanellus vanellus)

The lapwing, with its striking black and white plumage, nests in shallow scrapes lined with grass and moss. Famous for its acrobatic flight displays and loud, distinctive calls, especially during the breeding season, lapwings are increasingly rare as habitat loss continues to threaten them.

Found in: Farmlands and wetlands

6. Oystercatchers (Haematopus ostralegus)

Striking black-and-white shorebirds with orange beaks, oystercatchers nest on coastal shores, gravel banks, and occasionally inland. Their simple nests of shallow scrapes in sand or pebbles hold two to four camouflaged eggs. Both parents incubate and fiercely defend their nests from predators.

Found in: Wetlands and shingle beaches

Ground-nesting birds are particularly vulnerable to disturbance, especially from walkers and dogs. To protect them, please stick to paths and keep dogs on leads at our reserves. Any disturbance could cause adults to flee their nests, leaving chicks exposed and at risk to predators and starvation.