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Bison Herd Transforms Blean Forest, Boosts Biodiversity
6 Nov
Summary
- Bison herd helps increase light in forest through grazing, bark stripping, and trampling
- Conservationists plan to expand herd's range from 50 to 200 hectares
- Bison will be moved to other rewilding sites to support genetic diversity
As of November 2025, a herd of bison in the Blean Forest has been transforming the local ecosystem and boosting biodiversity. The herd, which now consists of nine bison - five calves and four adults - has helped increase the amount of light reaching the forest floor through their grazing, bark stripping, and trampling activities.
Conservationists at the Kent Wildlife Trust are excited about the herd's progress and are planning to expand its range from the current 50 hectares to 200 hectares. They also intend to move selected bison to other rewilding sites across the UK to support genetic diversity and help establish further herds.
"The matriarch's legacy goes far beyond this herd," said Heidi Aguirregoicoa, Bison Ranger at Kent Wildlife Trust. "Every change we've documented here - from woodland structure to species recovery to the regulatory changes we're driving - now serves as a proven model for future rewilding efforts."
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The Blean Bison project has created a blueprint for new approaches to conservation that can be replicated in other parts of the country. As the herd continues to thrive and expand, it is expected to have a lasting impact on the local ecosystem and inspire similar initiatives across the UK.
