Author | Lightnews

Reposted by Paul Whitfield

Rewilding Britain @rewildingbritain.org.uk · 24d

What better way to celebrate #WorldAnimalDay than with a baby bison arrival? 🦬

The Wilder Blean project — led by Wildwood Trust and @kentwildlife.bsky.social — has welcomed its fifth bison calf, marking the start of a third generation living in Kent’s ancient woodland near Canterbury.

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Screenshot of a online news article by the BBC featuring a photo of a bison calf and titled: 'Wilding scheme celebrates 'third-generation' bison'. Background photo is of tree tops. Credit: Alex Hyde

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Paul Whitfield @paulwhitfield.bsky.social · 25d

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Paul Whitfield @paulwhitfield.bsky.social · 26d

Once again, I’m struck by the immense ecological benefits they bring — for nature, for biodiversity, and for people. It’s a privilege to witness these projects in action, and to share the experience with such a passionate group of colleagues.

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Paul Whitfield @paulwhitfield.bsky.social · 26d

It is hard not to be moved by these charismatic and powerful animals. Standing among them, you feel their presence — not just as individuals, but as true ecosystem engineers. You can see how they shape the land, create space for other species, and bring vitality back to these landscapes.

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Paul Whitfield @paulwhitfield.bsky.social · 26d

This week, with the Large Herbivore Working Group, I am visiting some of the most inspiring European Bison projects in Spain.

A huge thank you to Fernando Morán for guiding us through these landscapes and for sharing both the challenges and successes of the work here.

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Reposted by Paul Whitfield

Greenpeace UK @greenpeaceuk.bsky.social · Aug 26

🚨BREAKING: England's largest lake, Windermere, is covered in FAECAL BACTERIA according to a new study.

Water companies have turned our most ICONIC lake into an open sewer while profiting BILLIONS.

Who else thinks this is SICK?

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Reposted by Paul Whitfield

Pádraic Fogarty @whittledaway.bsky.social · Aug 17

Rewilding on a massive scale is required across Europe, including Ireland, to protect our countryside, protect communities and minimise both fire risk and fire impact.

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Paul Whitfield @paulwhitfield.bsky.social · Aug 7

This is a huge step forwards for the return of the Choughs.

Reintroductions are hard work but days like this make the years of hard challenges worthwhile!

www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home...

Rare bird returning to county after 200 years of extinction

The red-billed chough vanished from Kent as a result of habitat loss and persecution

www.independent.co.uk

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Reposted by Paul Whitfield

Wolf Conservation Center 🐺 @nywolforg.bsky.social · Aug 6

#standforwolves #wolfconservation

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Paul Whitfield @paulwhitfield.bsky.social · Jul 26

My office and home for the next few days. Looking forward to If Not Now When, Rewilding conference at Rewilding Coombshead.
It’s so important to meet up with the rewilding community and support each other in our work to restore species and biodiversity.

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Paul Whitfield @paulwhitfield.bsky.social · Jun 11

Happy International Lynx Day!!
It is time we had these wonderful cats back in the UK

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Reposted by Paul Whitfield

Wildlife & Conservation at Uni Freiburg @wild-ecol-cons.bsky.social · Jun 11

Another lynx paper hot off the press!🔥Exploring the ecological feasibility of restoring Eurasian lynx to Great Britain 🐾

A well-planned, legal, lynx reintroduction could be feasible, provided there is acceptance in key stakeholder groups.

📰Read more: doi.org/10.1016/j.je...

Figure showing the research framework diagram to the question "What is the ecological feasability of lynx reintroduction in Great Britain?"

Figure showing predictions of habitat suitability maps for lynx in Great Britain.

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Reposted by Paul Whitfield

Donnachadh McCarthy @donnachadhmc.bsky.social · Jun 7

Wonderful to see native UK storks successfully migrating to & from Morocco to breed in Sussex.
Reintroduction project making progress after 11 patient yrs & 25 yrs of habitat restoration. Kudos to @kneppwilding.bsky.social #WadhurstPark & @cotswoldlife.bsky.social 🏆👍🙏
www.bbc.com/news/article...

Storks migrate back to conservation project at Knepp estate

At least six birds born in West Sussex in 2024 are back in the county after migrating to Morocco.

www.bbc.com

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Reposted by Paul Whitfield

Patrick Barkham @patrickbarkham.bsky.social · Jun 5

Keir Starmer needs to listen not to housebuilders but nightingales! More great reporting by my colleague Helena Horton. Madness that the best place in Britain for this endangered bird is owned by a housing quango. www.theguardian.com/environment/...

‘All the birdsong in the world in one sound’: England’s nightingale haven at risk from planning bill

Conservationists warn that losing Lodge Hill in Kent to housing could be a catastrophe for one of Britain’s most at-risk birds

www.theguardian.com

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Paul Whitfield @paulwhitfield.bsky.social · Jun 2

Great short film from @cnn.com on the Blean Bison Project.

edition.cnn.com/2025/05/22/s...

European bison return to the United Kingdom | CNN

A pioneering project in southeastern England has reintroduced a long-lost woolly giant to help restore its ancient woodlands.

edition.cnn.com

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Reposted by Paul Whitfield

Eoghan Daltun 🌍 @irishrainforest.bsky.social · May 31

The decline of large seed-dispersing animals has serious implications for trees and other flora.

It's also further proof of how very short-sighted it is to view forests as merely bunches of trees, rather than the complex *ecosystems* they are (or at least, should be).
www.nature.com/articles/s44...

Drivers and impacts of global seed disperser decline - Nature Reviews Biodiversity

Many plants rely on animals to disperse their seeds, but some groups of these seed-dispersing animals are facing severe declines. This Review summarizes evidence of seed disperser declines and discuss...

www.nature.com

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Reposted by Paul Whitfield

Tee Vixen Sutton @vixenbite.bsky.social · May 30

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Paul Whitfield @paulwhitfield.bsky.social · May 27

www.linkedin.com/posts/the-wi...

Malenky & Nanuq Have Arrived at Wildwood Devon! 🐻🐻 We’re delighted to… | Wildwood Trust

Malenky & Nanuq Have Arrived at Wildwood Devon! 🐻🐻 We’re delighted to announce that our two brown bear cubs have safely arrived at their new forever home at Wildwood Devon. After a long journey,...

www.linkedin.com

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Paul Whitfield @paulwhitfield.bsky.social · May 18

Totally agree!

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Paul Whitfield @paulwhitfield.bsky.social · May 12

www.independent.co.uk/climate-chan...

Restoring species such as beavers, elk and bison ‘crucial’ for nature – charity

Rewilding Britain is supporting 13 initiatives, including ones restoring lost species to help nature, people and climate.

www.independent.co.uk

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Paul Whitfield @paulwhitfield.bsky.social · May 8

Why doesn’t this Government understand that most people care deeply about nature?!

www.theguardian.com/environment/...

UK government admits almost no evidence nature protections block development

Whitehall analysis provides no data or research to support the government argument that environmental legislation holds up building

www.theguardian.com

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Paul Whitfield @paulwhitfield.bsky.social · May 4

The reality is they won’t put in the work because they don’t care about the issues that dedicated Cllrs spend their life’s working to make better for local people. Kent is going to be a real mess for some time

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Paul Whitfield @paulwhitfield.bsky.social · May 2

Could be the start of something very exciting!

New enclosure to support lynx breeding plans www.bbc.com/news/article...

Wildwood Trust: 'New enclosure will support lynx breeding plans'

The trust says the enclosure at its park near Canterbury will offer an immersive visitor experience.

www.bbc.com

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Paul Whitfield @paulwhitfield.bsky.social · Apr 20

The Majesty Oak. Probably England’s oldest oak

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Paul Whitfield @paulwhitfield.bsky.social · Apr 20

Finally an important way to use AI! 😂

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