Home, Home On the Range (After Thousands of Years)

Wild European bison (not the American versions as shown above) used to roam the UK's extensive woodlands thousands of years ago. Three have recently been released into a dense, commercial pine forest in darkest Kent (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/jul/18/wild-bison-return-to-uk-for-first-time-in-thousands-of-years). The location is presumably no longer being used for forestry. Pines, in such Southerly locations, are essentially alien species, as the original woodlands would have been dominated by Oak and Beech. The hope is that the activities of the bison will convert the forest into a more natural, vibrant woodland. Bison have a taste for tree bark which is likely to kill some trees. The bulk of these animals will also open up complex trails in the undergrowth, allowing light to reach the forest floor. These changes will increase biodiversity, by making conditions in the location conducive to a wider range of woodland animal and plant species. The bison are essentially being employed as unpaid, tree surgeons.