As part of the Wilder Blean project, on July 18th I was privileged to witness and photograph the release of three European bison into West Blean and Thornden Woods in Kent. A male will be released next month. The first of its kind in the UK and occurring two years into a five year project by the charities - Kent Wildlife Trust and The Wildwood Trust (funded by players of People’s Postcode Lottery) - the project’s goal is to restore the woodland, naturally, relying less on human intervention. A significant proportion of the woodland is non-native conifer but through their grazing, dust bathing and felling, bison will create layers and wet areas resulting in the wood moving away from a monoculture, creating light and new spaces for wildlife. I’m very excited to be working with KWT in documenting this project over the coming months and, possibly, years.
Once the gates were opened, the matriarch strode out. I clamped a remote camera onto the fence which I triggered from the viewing platform some 30 metres away while at the same time photographing the release with a 70-200mm.
It wasn't long until the two younger females also made their way out into the open.
A few minutes were then spent infront of the spectators before heading into the wood.
