Latest news with #WilderBlean
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Elk could return to UK after 3,000 years
Elk could be reintroduced to Britain for the first time in 3,000 years. After securing funding from Rewilding Britain, a conservation group is hoping elk will follow in the footsteps of beavers, bison and white-tailed eagles in making a celebrated return to the British countryside. The reintroduction of woodland foragers and wetlands grazers such as elk is seen as 'absolutely crucial' by Wilder Landscapes and Derbyshire Wildlife Trust to help repair ecosystems. Their grazing and trampling could begin within three years inside fenced beaver enclosures at two nature reserves – Wellington Wetlands near Derby and Idle Valley near Retford. The success of which could then open the door to their introduction in the wild. Rachel Bennett, the deputy director of the trust, said: 'This exciting project could demonstrate how this crucial ecosystem engineer can thrive in floodplain landscapes, shaping diverse habitats that benefit communities and support biodiversity recovery. 'It may also serve as a catalyst for engaging people in the long-term benefits of returning elk to the wild.' Elk a 'keystone species' Elk, which is the same species as moose in North America, were wiped out in Britain around 3,000 years ago as a result of overhunting and the draining of the wetlands they inhabited. Elk are one of three deer species that are native to the UK, alongside red and roe deer. In plans boosted by funding this week, several other projects have benefited from up to £15,000 from Rewilding Britain to help support innovative rewilding efforts. Rebecca Wrigley, chief executive of Rewilding Britain, said: 'Keystone species like elk, bison and beaver play a vital role in bringing nature back to life. 'They help repair ecosystems and shape wild places in ways that benefit wildlife, people and the climate. Successfully reintroducing missing species like these is absolutely crucial. 'It's a complex process involving multiple stages of research and development, feasibility studies, impact assessments, and community consultations. 'By taking the time and effort to get it right, we can create a more hopeful future for everyone.' It follows the Wilder Blean project, which saw the European bison – the continent's largest land mammal – released into 50 hectares of woodland near Canterbury in July 2022. Paul Whitfield, the director general at Wildwood Trust, said: 'The success of Wilder Blean has demonstrated what an astonishing impact bison can have on their environment in a relatively short space of time, as well as the amazing opportunities their reintroduction presents for eco-tourism and education. 'We'd love to see reintroduction projects like Wilder Blean taking place at appropriate sites across the UK, bringing the benefits of this amazing keystone species to multiple habitats.' In total, 13 projects have been awarded funding, including one helping to bring beavers back to the northern Highlands, another looking to increase tree species diversity in the area and a seagrass restoration feasibility study in Cornwall. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
STV News
07-05-2025
- General
- STV News
Restoring species such as beavers, elk and bison ‘crucial' for nature, say charity
Successfully restoring keystone species such as beavers, elk and bison is 'crucial' to bringing nature back to life in the UK, conservationists have said. Nature charity Rewilding Britain said that successfully reintroducing missing species could help repair natural systems and benefit wildlife, people and climate, as it announced the latest round of funding for rewilding initiatives. The latest recipients of the charity's rewilding innovation fund, which provides up to £15,000 for schemes, includes projects to restore lost species such as beaver, European bison – a close relative to the extinct bison that was once found here – and European elk. According to Rewilding Britain, rewilding is the large-scale restoration of nature to the point it can take care of itself, by bringing back habitats and natural processes and, where appropriate, reintroducing lost species such as beavers. The first licensed release of beavers to the wild in England took place in Purbeck earlier this year after the Government gave the go-ahead for wild reintroductions. Questions have been raised about the release of large animals following illegal releases in Scotland's Cairngorms of pigs, which were caught and culled, and four lynx, one of which died shortly after capture. But Rewilding Britain said successful reintroductions, done right with feasibility studies, impact assessments and community consultations, could be a positive move. Rebecca Wrigley, chief executive of Rewilding Britain, said: 'Keystone species like elk, bison and beaver play a vital role in bringing nature back to life. 'They help repair ecosystems and shape wild places in ways that benefit wildlife, people and the climate. 'Successfully reintroducing missing species like these is absolutely crucial. 'It's a complex process involving multiple stages of research and development, feasibility studies, impact assessments, and community consultations. By taking the time and effort to get it right, we can create a more hopeful future for everyone.' Among the schemes receiving funding is a joint project by Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire wildlife trusts exploring reintroducing European elk, which are forest and wetland grazers which engineer their landscapes, and are naturally found in freshwater wetlands where beavers also live. Although beavers are making a comeback in Britain, the UK has no wetlands containing both beavers and elk, and the project by the wildlife trusts is looking at reintroducing elk into two existing beaver enclosures in the counties. Rewilding Britain said the move would bring the two 'keystone' species – so called because they play a key role in an ecosystem – together for the first time in 3,000 years in the UK. A project led by Wildwood Trust to reintroduce bison to a currently confidential site in the south of England within five years, drawing on the Wilder Blean project which was the first initiative to release the animals into an enclosure in Kent, has also received funding. While European bison are not native to the UK, its close relative – the globally extinct forest bison – was here, at least during the last ice age, conservationists said. Paul Whitfield, director general at Wildwood Trust which is leading the project, said: 'This funding from Rewilding Britain is enabling us to take the next step in supporting bison reintroduction projects across the UK and inform policy to move the boundaries of bison rewilding. 'The success of Wilder Blean has demonstrated what an astonishing impact bison can have on their environment in a relatively short space of time, as well as the amazing opportunities their reintroduction presents for eco-tourism and education. 'We'd love to see reintroduction projects like Wilder Blean taking place at appropriate sites across the UK, bringing the benefits of this amazing keystone species to multiple habitats.' A project by Trees for Life has been awarded funding to help bring back beavers to the northern Scottish Highlands, working with communities, landowners and partners to find suitable places for the animals which shape their landscape to help other wildlife, store carbon and curb flooding. A further ten projects have been awarded up to £15,000 each from Rewilding Britain in this round of funding, including increasing tree species diversity in the Highlands, and a feasibility study into restoring seagrass in Cornwall. Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
Evening Standard
06-05-2025
- General
- Evening Standard
Restoring species such as beavers, elk and bison ‘crucial' for nature
A project led by Wildwood Trust to reintroduce bison to a currently confidential site in the south of England within five years, drawing on the Wilder Blean project which was the first initiative to release the animals into an enclosure in Kent, has also received funding.
