Kentish Gazette Canterbury & District
Bison viewing platforms snubbed
‘This will in no way prevent the bison arrival to the UK or their subsequent release...’
Plans to build raised platforms from which nature lovers would be able to watch a herd of bison in the wild have been rejected. Kent Wildlife Trust launched a bid in October to erect four viewing stations around a proposed 500-acre enclosure at West Blean’s ancient woodland on the outskirts of Canterbury. The scheme was part of £1.1 million efforts led by the charity, along with the Wildwood Trust, to bring a quartet of bison, Europe’s largest mammal, to the forest.
But the organisations have suffered a setback, after the city council refused their proposals to build the raised observation areas and barriers.
In a report published this week, authority planners explained: “It is understood the bison will have some conservation benefits, and the proposed crossings will allow the public to safely walk through the site and see the bison. “However, the application has been submitted with insufficient information and evidence to understand the full impact upon ecology and biodiversity, archaeology, heritage assets and
visual impact.
“Due to the lack of information provided, the proposed development fails to comply with a number of policies.” Natural England raised objections to the plans, arguing they “could have potential significant effects” on the woodland, while ecologists noted it could impact local badgers, bats, birds, and dormice. Meanwhile, the city council’s archaeology and heritage teams also hit out against the scheme. Drawings show the viewing points would have been located along public footpaths running through the woods.
They would have been situated over so-called “bison tunnels”, through which the creatures would have moved between different sections of the fenced-off enclosure, which is the size of 1,000 football pitches.
A Kent Wildlife Trust spokesperson said: “We are disappointed
with the decision made by the city council, but this will in no way prevent the bison arrival to the UK or their subsequent release.
“The tunnels will allow us to extend the area the bison access in the future but are not essential immediately, until then they would only be able to access the area they’re in.”
“We will continue to work with the planning department in order to realise this vision of
a Wilder Blean.” Preparations have been ongoing for the past 18 months to move the creatures from Germany, Scotland and Ireland, as part of a rewilding scheme that would be the first of its kind in the UK.
The animals eat bark and push over trees by rubbing up against them. It is hoped their presence at Blean woods will help other creatures and plants to thrive. Paul Whitfield, director general at Wildwood, told the Gazette: “The project’s still going ahead as planned and is on track.
“We’re looking at the bison arriving in May – it’s not far off at all. They’ll go into a small area initially off our car park, and they’ll be visible to visitors from there.
“The plan is for the bison to breed within the area. We’re looking at the first calves arriving within a year.
“It’ll bring tourists into the area and we think financially it’s going to be a real help to restaurants and hotels in the area – it’s an important project the people of Canterbury can be proud of.” Although no remains of the creatures have been found in Britain, on Doggerland - the land bridge in the North Sea that once connected the UK to Europe - bison bones have been found dating back about 11,600 years.