A Legacy in the Wild: Honouring the matriarch of Britain's bison comeback

Award-winning conservationists are celebrating the life of the pioneering female bison who became the cornerstone of Britain’s wilding story. Her passing came just days before the herd welcomed a new calf - a powerful reminder of the circle of life.

Having arrived from the Highlands in July 2022, she became the first bison to roam freely in the British countryside for thousands of years, under the Blean Bison Project. From the moment of release, she led the herd and helped shape the woodland through natural behaviours. Seven calves have been born in the Blean to date, including three this season.

Heidi Aguirregoicoa, Bison Ranger at Kent Wildlife Trust, said:

"The matriarch's legacy goes far beyond this herd. The Blean Bison project creates a blueprint for new approaches to conservation across the UK. Every change we've documented here - from woodland structure to species recovery to the regulatory changes we're driving - now serves as a proven model for future wilding efforts.

“The matriarch and the herd she leaves behind have shown us what's possible when we trust these natural processes.They've proved that our landscapes are ready for this kind of wilding. Other initiatives can now move forward with real evidence and confidence."

The herd now consists of nine bison - five calves and four adults - with a new lead female emerging naturally. In time, selected bison will move to other rewilding sites to support genetic diversity and help establish further herds across the UK.

The animals currently roam 50 hectares of woodland, with access set to expand to 200 hectares via the UK’s first bison bridges - enabling wider movement while protecting the public footpath network across the Blean.

Donovan Wright, Bison & Rewilding Ranger at Wildwood Trust, said:

"The matriarch shaped the project from the very first day. She was the rock, the foundation of the herd, and the cornerstone of bison rewilding in the UK. Her calmness and steady nature spread through the herd, changing how they interacted with one another, with the landscape, and with us. When she led, they settled. When she paused, they listened. It was humbling watching her share that deep, ancient bison wisdom. She was more than the herd’s leader and teacher, she was ours, and she showed us what's possible.”

"So much began with her first step: the paths they open, the habitat they shape, and the hope they inspire. She was the first to conceive in the Blean as a wild bison. Her calf, a healthy young bull with strong genetics, has since moved to another site, where he’s thriving in a herd of his own. This is the next chapter: not just a project in one wood, but a network of hope growing across the UK. What we are seeing is real, tangible change, right here in the UK. Nature can recover.”

The herd was brought to West Blean and Thornden Woods to boost biodiversity and help the landscape build resilience against a changing climate. Bison act like natural land managers- they create open spaces, strip bark from trees, and clear thick plants so other wildlife can flourish. The matriarch played a key role in thinning the once-overgrown rhododendron, letting sunlight back into the woods and helping many different species return.