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Wait at Wildwood Trust near Canterbury and Herne Bay almost over for first bison

The first member of a herd of bison set to be introduced to Canterbury woodland will arrive in the next two weeks, bosses have revealed.

The group’s matriarch will make the move from Scotland to West Blean and Thornden woods - between the city and Herne Bay - in the first half of July as part of a £1.1 million rewilding scheme.

Bison at the Wildwood Trust near Canterbury and Herne Bay. Picture: Wildwood Trust
Bison at the Wildwood Trust near Canterbury and Herne Bay. Picture: Wildwood Trust

Two more females will be brought to the area the following week, before the trio are joined by a bull travelling over from Germany.

Described as the first of its kind, the project - led by the Wildwood Trust and Kent Wildlife Trust (KWT) - is expected to give the district a major cash injection by boosting tourist numbers.

And officials have announced that nature lovers will be able to see the huge creatures – which can weigh up to a ton – without a barrier between them on special tours.

Wildwood director general Paul Whitfield told KentOnline: “People may well be able to see them from within the Blean on walks, as they will be visible from various public footpaths [through the fencing].

“We’re also building a platform within Wildwood that overlooks a big area where the bison will be.

Wildwood Trust director general Paul Whitfield
Wildwood Trust director general Paul Whitfield

“And once they’re settled we’ll be doing walking safaris into the Blean, where the bison will be within the enclosures, in their habitats, without a fence between them.

“When moving large animals, there’s no guarantees with these things, but the matriarch should be here in the first half of July.”

While Wildwood may be organising supervised tours within the fenced-off enclosures, at all other times the bison will be kept separate from members of the public.

KWT had launched a bid in October to erect four viewing stations around a proposed 500-acre enclosure – the size of 1,000 football pitches – in the woodland.

Drawings showed that the animals - Europe’s largest mammal - would have been able to pass under the platforms through so-called “bison tunnels” that would have allowed them access other parts of the forest.

But the plans were snubbed by Canterbury City Council earlier this year, meaning the bison will remain inside a 120-acre zone adjoining Wildwood’s Canterbury Road base.

Bison will soon roam around the woodland near Canterbury. Picture: Tom Cawdron
Bison will soon roam around the woodland near Canterbury. Picture: Tom Cawdron

“The first area the bison are going into is complete – we don’t need the tunnels for them to get into there,” Mr Whitfield explained.

“As soon as the tunnels are built there’ll be that second area for them to go into.

“There will also be Exmoor ponies coming into the project with iron-age pigs – but the bison will need to settle on their own first.

“People are interested in seeing the bison and want to see them, so we’re anticipating a boost in local tourism. It will be a real attraction.”

KWT is readying a second application for the viewing stations, as it remains steadfast in its desire to have the expanded zone.

Bison have not roamed freely in the UK for about 30,000 years
Bison have not roamed freely in the UK for about 30,000 years

Mr Whitfield had originally expected to welcome the creatures to the area in May – but says added paperwork and red tape caused by Brexit have delayed the project.

“The legal process of bringing bison from Europe into the UK has become an awful lot more complicated – all the systems for transporting animals effectively disappeared with Brexit,” he added.

“But we’re hoping the first animal will be coming in the next fortnight and the two other females the week after that.

"It’s important to get the females in together and settled before introducing the bull because the hierarchy of the herd means the older matriarch will be the leader – if you introduce them all together it can create conflict.”

Bison have not roamed freely in the UK for about 30,000 years.

“For the first few weeks the animals won’t be particularly visible because they’ll be settling in, having their health checks,” Mr Whitfield continued.

“Once they’re fully out in the Blean then they’ll be much more visible.”

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