Pigs and ponies join UK's wild bison to recreate prehistoric landscape (rewilding)

[eShirl]

I thought other DU peeps might find this interesting, too...
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/mar/18/pigs-and-ponies-join-uks-wild-bison-to-recreate-prehistoric-landscape

The UK’s first wild bison in millennia have been joined by iron-age pigs, Exmoor ponies and longhorn cattle as the rewilding project moves forward in creating a rich and natural new habitat.

The Wilder Blean project in Kent is deploying the animals to replicate the roles played by mega-herbivores when bison, aurochs and wild horses roamed prehistoric England. The animals will be closely monitored as they transform a former commercial pine plantation into a wild wood.

The ancient breeds act as ecosystem engineers, with the bison stripping bark from trees and creating the deadwood needed by insects, as well as trampling down corridors of light to spur new plant growth. The ponies complement this by clearing soft vegetation, while the pigs dig around looking for roots and bulbs, spurring new seeds to germinate. The longhorn cattle open up the tree canopy and their actions will be compared with those of the bison. All the changes will encourage bats, birds and other creatures to thrive.

“This is where the project really starts to come to fruition,” said Paul Hadaway, of Kent Wildlife Trust (KWT), which runs the project along with the Wildwood Trust. “We’ve had the bison now for eight months settling into this site and doing some amazing stuff. But the intention was always to have as close to a natural grazing assemblage as we could recreate.

-snip-

[mopinko]

1. that's some awesome sauce right there. yessery

sir david attenborough says if we rewild 1/3 of the planet, we’re okay. i’m not sure why this isnt a kinda known fact at this point.

i just love this idea, and these stories give me tingles. thx.

[Botany]

2. This is being done in America right now

https://homegrownnationalpark.org/about

[mopinko]

4. thanks for the reminder. you've mentioned this before.

pretty sure it was you. i meant to enroll my property. i do grow food crops, but i have lots of weedy patches and natives get whatever i’m not making good use of.

i just got rid of my chickens, so my backyard is now pretty much a blank slate w great soil. thinking mostly planting for wildlife, so i have a nice spot for the rocking chair that’s out to get me in a big way atm. lol.

[Botany]

5. Let me know if you need any help with your project.

I know "a little" about that stuff. BTW make sure to plant some late figwort. If it is native
to your area.

Awesome display of pollinators from May/June up to frost.

[mopinko]

6. i'd love some help.

i rly wasnt looking for a project. i got rid of the chickens cuz i’m trying to simplify a bit.
i have some money, but not a ton. want some grapes/small fruits. birds get plenty of mine anyway. some elderberries, mostly for the critters, i think. that’s about as far as i’ve gotten.

some good sunny spots, but dominated by a big silver maple. have a young grafted apple, couple lilacs and a concord on an arbor. other than that, 35’ x 80’ to play w.

there’s always good seed swaps around here. wild ones has a great one coming up. i figured that was a good place to hatch a plan.
plenty of good stuff will drift in if i let it. have stuff i’ll prolly divide. some good berries.

but have to great ideas so far.

[Botany]

7. Where do you live?

n/t

[mopinko]

8. chicago

[Botany]

9. Perfect ..... Jens Jensen country

I'll p.m. you my phone # and when you get a chance you can text me some pix.

[mopinko]

10. coolio

[Botany]

11. FYI My friend wrote this book

https://www.prairienursery.com/resources-guides/the-gardeners-guide-to-prairie-plants/

[NickB79]

3. Eventually they'll need predators reintroduced as well

But the UK just nixed that idea recently.