Yes, there are wild bison in Britain. A herd of European bison has lived in West Blean and Thornden Woods, on the edge of Canterbury in Kent, since July 2022, run by Kent Wildlife Trust and Wildwood Trust. Bison did once live in Britain, but the last were steppe bison that died out around 10,000 years ago, and no bones of the European bison itself have been found here, so the Blean herd is the closest living stand-in rather than a like-for-like return. What they add is work no other British animal does: cattle mostly graze, while bison also strip bark and push over small trees, opening glades and leaving standing deadwood, and their dust baths make bare ground for insects and reptiles. In 2026 five bison from the Kent herd moved to start a second herd on the Castletown Estate in Cumbria.
The Wilder Blean project, led by Kent Wildlife Trust and Wildwood Trust, is demonstrating how these gentle giants can transform overgrown woodland into thriving, biodiverse habitat, without chainsaws or heavy machinery.
Return of the Bison
European bison (Bison bonasus) once roamed across Europe, from the Atlantic coast to the Ural Mountains. They were hunted to near-extinction in the early 20th century, with the last wild bison killed in 1927. Only a small captive population survived in zoos.
Through careful breeding programmes, the population has recovered to several thousand animals across Europe. Now, they're returning to countries where they haven't lived for centuries, including the UK.
Bison Timeline
Steppe bison, the last bison in Britain, die out
Last wild European bison killed by poachers
Three female bison released at Wilder Blean, Kent; the bull follows in December. The first calf is born in the woodland that summer
Two more calves born; the herd reaches eight
The Wilder Blean Project
Blean Woods, near Canterbury, is one of England's largest ancient woodlands. But like many British woodlands, decades of neglected management had left it dense and uniform, dominated by sweet chestnut coppice with little light reaching the forest floor.
The Wilder Blean project introduced bison alongside Exmoor ponies, Iron Age pigs, and Longhorn cattle to naturally manage the woodland. Each species has a different role:
Bison
Fell trees, strip bark, create glades, and push through dense vegetation. Their dust baths create bare ground for invertebrates.
Exmoor Ponies
Graze grassland and scrub edges, maintaining open areas and preventing woodland from completely closing over.
Iron Age Pigs
Root through the soil, disturbing ground and turning over leaf litter, creating germination sites for seeds.
Longhorn Cattle
Browse on shrubs and young trees, preventing scrub from dominating and maintaining a mosaic of habitats.
Bison as Ecosystem Engineers
Bison don't just live in the landscape; they actively shape it. Their unique behaviours create habitats that other species use:
- Bark stripping: Bison strip bark from trees, creating standing deadwood that supports cavity-nesting birds and saproxylic beetles.
- Tree felling: They push over smaller trees, creating fallen deadwood and opening the canopy to light.
- Dust bathing: Bison create shallow depressions for dust baths, which become bare ground habitat for mining bees and basking reptiles.
- Path creation: Their regular routes through vegetation create natural pathways and glades.
- Dung: Bison dung supports dung beetle larvae and fungi.
Benefits for Biodiversity
Kent Wildlife Trust says it is far too early to say how the bison are changing the woodland, but monitoring is under way. Findings reported so far include:
- 178 spider species recorded in the Blean, which could make it one of the most significant woodland spider assemblages in the UK
- A beetle, Lagria atripes, previously declared extinct in the UK, recorded in the wood
- Rhododendron trampled and new paths opening through dense woodland
- Dung beetle larvae and fungi living in bison dung
The project is testing whether natural grazing can do work that would otherwise need chainsaws and machinery. The monitoring results will show whether it can.
Future of Bison in Britain
In 2026 five bison from the Kent herd moved to the Castletown Estate in Cumbria, where the Wildwood Trust owns the animals and advises on the project. Whether bison can play a bigger role in managing British woodland will depend on what the monitoring shows.
Challenges remain: bison require large areas, careful management, and community support. But as more people see the benefits firsthand, the vision of bison ranging across British woodlands feels increasingly achievable.
How to See Bison
The bison live in fenced woodland compartments that the public cannot enter. Footpaths cross the bison area on bridges, and from these visitors may see the herd pass underneath. Sightings are not guaranteed.
Visiting Tips
- •Where: Park at the West Blean and Thornden Woods car park, Thornden Wood Road, Canterbury CT6 7NZ. Check Kent Wildlife Trust's website before you go, as access has changed during construction work.
- •Timing: Early morning or late afternoon gives the best chance, as bison are more active in cooler temperatures.
- •Dogs: Keep dogs on a lead across the reserve, as livestock graze there.
- •Ranger experiences: Kent Wildlife Trust runs paid ranger experiences and safaris for a closer look; dates and prices are on its website.
Experience Rewilding in Wales
While we don't have bison at the Grange Project, you can experience rewilding principles in action and meet our conservation grazing animals.
Further Resources
Watch
Wilder Blean Bison - A Tour from Ranger Heidi
Watch the historic moment bison were released into the British countryside.
Wilder Blean Bison Release: The Start Of A New Era Of Conservation
Kent Wildlife Trust explains how bison are transforming Blean Woods.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are there wild bison in the UK?
Yes! In 2022, European bison were released into Blean Woods in Kent as part of the Wilder Blean project, making them the first wild bison in Britain for thousands of years. This small herd roams freely in the woodland, naturally managing the habitat through their grazing and browsing behaviour.
Were bison ever native to Britain?
Bison did live in Britain, but the last of them were steppe bison, which died out around 10,000 years ago. No remains of the European bison (Bison bonasus) have been found in Britain, and ecologists still debate whether it ever lived here. Rewilding projects use it as the closest living relative to restore the work large wild browsers once did in British woodland.
Are European bison dangerous?
European bison are generally not aggressive towards humans if given space and respect. They are large, powerful animals that should be observed from a distance. At Wilder Blean the public is kept separate from the herd by fencing, and footpaths cross the bison area on bridges.
What do European bison eat?
European bison are mixed feeders, eating grasses, herbs, shrubs, bark, and tree leaves. Unlike cattle, they browse extensively on woody vegetation, which makes them excellent for managing woodland habitats. They particularly enjoy hazel, willow, and bramble, and their feeding creates glades and diverse habitat structure.
How big are European bison?
European bison are the largest land mammals in Europe. Bulls can weigh up to 1,000 kg and stand 2 metres tall at the shoulder. Cows are smaller, typically weighing 300-500 kg. Despite their size, they can run at speeds of up to 35 mph when needed.
Why were bison reintroduced to the UK?
Bison were reintroduced as ecosystem engineers to naturally manage woodland habitats. Their behaviour, including bark stripping, creating dust baths, and breaking through dense vegetation, creates diverse microhabitats that benefit insects, birds, and plants. This natural approach is more sustainable than mechanical management.
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