West Blean and Thornden Woods
Please be aware that the construction of our bison bridges will begin on Friday, 20th September 2024. There may be limited access to our car park during this time. Please see our FAQs below for more information.
Location
OS Map Reference
TR 143 632What3Words:
satin.pavement.beaks
Know before you go
Dogs
Dog waste bins available. Livestock are present on site.
When to visit
Opening times
Open at all timesBest time to visit
All year roundAbout the reserve
Kent Wildlife Trust and Wildwood Trust have welcomed European Bison to Blean Woods. These powerful ecosystem engineers will help restore an abundance of wildlife to this area. Find out more on our project page or check out the FAQs by clicking the button below.
For up-to-date information about access and visiting the reserve, click below.
This large ancient woodland that is ever-changing, has an ancient droveway through it that is almost a thousand years old. During that time there have been many changes and this continues today. Before Kent Wildlife Trust bought the wood, it was managed commercially for timber production, which is why almost half of the wood is covered in plantations of non-native conifer trees. Over the coming years, we aim to breathe life back into the woods in a variety of ways.
For example, coppicing is good for wildlife as it creates sunny glades perfect for sun-loving plants and animals. As the trees regenerate, they form a thicket which is perfect cover for a variety of small mammals such as dormouse and birds such as Nightingale. In time the woodland naturally changes as the Oak trees mature, and these are perfect for hundreds of insect species as well as woodland birds and bats. In time the pine plantations will be removed and a greater diversity of wildlife habitats will develop.
There are several way-marked, varied length walks to follow, a short one mile surfaced route will take you about 30 minutes to complete, longer if you spend some time looking out for some of the interesting features on the way round.
Species
Contact us
Visiting West Blean and Thonden Woods during the construction of bison bridges - September 2024 - Summer 2025
We have reached the exciting stage of the Wilder Blean Initiative where bison bridges are being installed to allow the UK's only wild bison herd full access to 200 hectares of West Blean and Thornden Woods.
Whilst it is an exciting development, we do appreciate these works will impact your visit and there may be some restrictions to footpaths and the car park while we are in the construction phase.
We will keep this page updated, so please check for the latest news from the Blean before you visit. Thank you for your patience and cooperation, the temporary disruption is to create a lasting legacy that will benefit us (and nature) in the long term.
Will parking be affected?
It’s likely that large sections of the car park will be needed to store materials and park vehicles. Please check the website before you visit for the most up to date information.
Spaces will be available for those who have pre-booked events and you will be directed to the correct parking area for you as part of your event confirmation.
Which footpaths can I access and when?
We will endeavour to keep footpaths open as much as possible during the build. You will see notices on site when these need to close temporarily to ensure the safety of the public and our contractors.
Will there still be events running?
Events will still be running as normal but you may need to park in a dedicated area which will be detailed on your confirmation. Please check our website for the latest updates.
When will I be able to use the bridges?
We don’t have a confirmed time yet but we will announce it as soon as we know. The bridges themselves will take around eight weeks each to complete. Following the build, safety checks and fencing must be completed. You will find that the bridges will be fenced off until they are ready for you to use.
How will the bison and other wildlife be affected by the works?
We will endeavour to keep impacts on the bison herd and wider wildlife as low as possible during the construction of the bridges.
The construction of one crossing will affect the bison’s current compartment, temporarily excluding them from a small area for their safety. Seasonal mitigation plans are in place for protected species, coordinated with local support groups and ecologists such as the Ecological Clerk of Works to minimise impacts.
Reptile fencing will prevent reptiles from accessing the work area, and heath fritillary eggs and caterpillars will be translocated in the Blean for their protection. Licenses have been sought for work that may disrupt dormice and heath fritillary butterflies. We will also wait for birds to finish nesting before any work commences.
Credit: Tom Cawdron
Wilder Blean
Kent Wildlife Trust and Wildwood Trust have launched a flagship wilding project, ‘Wilder Blean’, funded by players of People’s Postcode Lottery.
The project will promote stronger habitats by restoring natural processes that are able to withstand the current environmental crisis and species decline, and in the long run, reverse it.
European bison are being used in this project because they are ecosystem engineers, meaning that they are able to change their environment through their natural behaviours.
Bison can change woodlands in a way that no other animal can. They eat bark and create dust baths which each have benefits for many plants and animals. These are functions that have been missing from our UK woodlands for thousands of years and bringing them back can help restore an abundance of wildlife.
Find out more about the Wilder Blean project here!
