UK's ancient woodlands face crisis as Kent Wildlife Trust launches emergency appeal

The charity's Wilder Blean: Wilder Woodlands campaign, part of the Big Give Christmas Challenge, aims to raise £75,000 between 2nd-9th December to support a groundbreaking wilding project that could transform woodland conservation across the UK. Thanks to generous match funders, every donation made during this week-long window will be doubled - meaning one gift will have twice the impact for nature.

Ancient woodlands are the UK's rainforests. They support more species than any other land-based habitat and are home to diverse wildlife including bluebells, dormice and lesser spotted woodpeckers. Yet these irreplaceable ecosystems face unprecedented threats from climate change, invasive species, pollution and development.

In response, Kent Wildlife Trust is pioneering a revolutionary wilding approach at West Blean woods. In 2022, the charity and Wildwood Trust introduced European bison - nature's 'ecosystem engineers' - alongside Iron Age pigs, longhorn cattle and Exmoor ponies to naturally manage 300 hectares of woodland. This is Britain's first wild bison herd in thousands of years.

Simon Bateman Brown, Deputy Director of Land Management at Kent Wildlife Trust, said: "West Blean is demonstrating something extraordinary, that when we let nature lead, woodlands can recover. The results we're seeing are remarkable. Our bison are naturally regenerating habitat and rare species are already returning. 

“This isn't just about one woodland in Kent - we're creating a proven model that can restore ancient woodlands across the UK. Between now and 9th December, every donation is doubled, so there's never been a more powerful time to act for nature."

The bison's natural behaviours - grazing, dustbathing and bark stripping - are already creating new habitats, with rangers recording rare fungi, butterflies and even dung beetles in bison dung. As this first-of-its-kind UK conservation project develops, woodland species like woodpeckers, bats and dormice are expected to thrive as biodiversity recovers.

The £75,000 raised from the appeal will:

• Support dedicated Bison Rangers caring for Britain's first wild bison herd and other grazing species 
• Continue towards the building of a third bison bridge to extend their range to 250 hectares, allowing nature to work across even more landscape
• Fund the Blean Area Warden and volunteers using traditional conservation methods in separate areas, enabling crucial comparison between natural and human-led management

The Wilder Blean: Wilder Woodlands appeal runs from 2nd-9th December 2025 only. To donate visit www.kwtg.uk/big-give