BBC News Published image captionWildcats bred in Kent and Devon could be reintroduced to the countryside Wildcats could return to England for the first time in over 200 years, a wildlife charity has said. The Wildwood Trust plans to start a breeding project, while researchers look for a suitable release site. The return of the predators, which have been driven to extinction in England and Wales, could "help restore the balance in ecosystems," the trust said. Scientists working with the charity are investigating how to manage potential conflicts with farmers and pet owners. "Our goal is to return a viable and self-sustaining wildcat population to its former range," Laura Gardner, the trust's director of conservation said.