Work begins on bridges to give aerial views of bison

People will be able to walk above the bison roaming the land below (computer generated image)

Construction has begun on a network of “bison bridges” in Kent, which will give people aerial views of the country’s first wild bison herd in thousands of years.

Three bison were released into West Blean and Thornden Woods nature reserve in 2022. Their numbers have now doubled and biodiversity in the area is thriving.

Building work is under way on the four pedestrian bridges, meaning there is restricted access to the area.

Simon Bateman-Brown, from the Kent Wildlife Trust (KWT), said: “Once at the top, people will have a great vantage point to potentially catch a glimpse of the animals.”

West Blean and Thornden Woods, where the animals live as the UK's only free-roaming bison herd, has several public footpaths.

The paths prevent the animals from having full access to the woodland, as legislation prevents them from sharing the same space as the public.

The bridges will allow the bison to roam 200 hectares (494 acres) of land, rather than 50 hectares (123 acres) as they do currently, without having to close footpaths to the public.

Work on the first two bridges will be complete by the end of this year. The project will cost £1m overall, paid for by a number of public bodies and private investors.

The bison will be able to pass under the footpaths without coming into contact with the public (artist's impression)

Mr Bateman-Brown said he hoped that one day people would be able to walk amongst the bison.

“The Wilder Blean initiative is a ground-breaking proof of concept project laying out the blueprint for others to follow and we are leading the way to make it easier for other organisations to replicate,” he said.

The project to reintroduce bison to the Kent countryside has been overseen by the KVT and the Wildwood Trust.

It has also seen the release of Iron Age pigs, Exmoor ponies and longhorn cattle into the area.