Brown bears to be reintroduced to woods near Bristol after council gives permission

Still chasing up this story that was first published on 4th July last year (2018). Considering that Bristol Zoo has been getting criticism about the loud parties it holds (events) and the affect it might have on the animals there some good ideas might be worth supporting -particularly if it means educating the public on wolves.

If I get any new information I wll post it here.

Story:

Bear Wood could reopen in time for next summer, and will house brown bears as well as lynx, wolves and wolverine in woodlands

A multi-million pound plan to return bears to ancient woodland on the outskirts of Bristol has been given the go ahead.

South Gloucestershire Council has approved the ambitious £5million scheme, which was put forward by conservationists at Wild Place Project earlier this year.

The council’s approval means the scheme - called Bear Wood - could reopen in time for next summer, and will house brown bears as well as lynx, wolves and wolverine in woodlands.

Nigel Simpson, head of operations at Wild Place Project, said: “We are thrilled to announce we have been given the go-ahead for this scheme.

“Wild Place Project is continuously growing and the new Bear Wood addition will mean that guests can get closer to these species in a natural setting and see how they once would have lived alongside each other.

“We have been planning Bear Wood for a long time now and it’s really exciting to see it come to fruition.”

When it eventually opens, visitors will be able to walk through the wood - which covers approximately seven and a half acres - on a raised path that winds through the trees.

Five European grey wolves, already at Wild Place Project, will be moved to a new home in the wood which they will share alongside brown bears, lynx and wolverine.

A pack of European grey wolves will join the bears in the new wood

Bristol Zoo has already received donations from generous benefactors and sponsors towards the cost of the scheme but still needs more than £1.5million to make it a reality.

Aside from the bears and wildlife, the woods will also include a café and a classroom.

All of the buildings will be constructed to blend in with their surroundings.

Project coordinator Rebecca Cole added: “We have made great efforts to ensure that Bear Wood will blend in its surroundings and allow our visitors to see bears, lynx, wolves and wolverine in a natural environment.

Bear Wood, which could reopen by next summer depending on funding, will also be home to lynx

“But this is also about telling the story of these woods from centuries ago to the present day.”

Woods, similar to those at Wild Place Project, once covered as much as 75 per cent of Britain but have been steadily cut down for building, housing, fuel, growing crops and making paper.

Today, such woods cover just two per cent of the country.

Dr Christoph Schwitzer, director of conservation at Bristol Zoological Society which owns and runs Wild Place Project, said he was delighted that planning approval had been granted.

He said: “Bear Wood will provide an experience like no other in Britain. For the first time in generations, people will be able to see brown bears in England in what would have been their natural habitat.”