Hopes for breeding Kent bison herd in new UK location

Five bison from a Kent conservation project have arrived in Cumbria with hopes they will establish a new breeding herd.

The animals from the Blean Bison Project previously roamed within West Blean and Thornden Woods just outside Canterbury.

Their move is part of a wider effort to reintroduce bison to the UK landscape, with Wildwood Trust and Kent Wildlife Trust describing them as acting like ecosystem engineers, naturally reshaping and restoring woodland.

Paul Whitfield, director general at Wildwood Trust, said: “It means a huge amount to us that we can now bring our first-hand experience to new bison journeys starting in other parts of the UK.”