Blenheim Palace using aerial photos to protect woodlands

High-resolution aerial photography and specialist tree data is being used to provide insights into the number of trees and the changing woodland canopy on the grounds.

The estate is home to Europe's largest concentration of ancient oak trees and has recently seen a tree-planting initiative across a 150-hectare site, the largest in southern England.

Data from Bluesky's National Tree Map, which includes all trees three metres and taller in Great Britain, is being used to assess the age and type of woodlands and track changes.

An aerial image of trees around Blenheim Palace (Image: Blenheim Palace and Bluesky International 2024) David Gasca, head of natural capital at Blenheim Palace, said: "Knowing where our oldest trees are located means we are able to better tell the story of the estate’s natural history.

"Pinpointing locations through the aerial data means we can direct specialists to the most important locations in our woodlands and develop plans to protect and enhance them in future management and planting strategies."

The estate's tree coverage has evolved significantly over time, with some areas transforming from grazing land to woodland in less than 20 years.

Mr Gasca said: "This has been achieved entirely through natural regeneration and limited intervention which in turn is now making us consider what can be achieved across the estate as a whole."

Aerial imagery from the 1940s suggests the estate was much more open back then than it is now.

Blenheim Palace (Image: Blenheim Palace and Bluesky International 2024) Mr Gasca plans to overlay the old imagery with the current Bluesky data to inform other planting programmes.

He added: "There is a big drive nationally to plant trees, but this data to track and monitor gives us insight into how the trees are evolving and the role natural regeneration might play in helping us expand the extent of woodlands across our estate."

Ralph Coleman, chief commercial officer at Bluesky, said: "Understanding our past unlocks potential for future regeneration and planning.

"Geospatial datasets hold vital information that can support important conversation projects and work like these happening at Blenheim Palace.

Tree mapping on a section of the Blenheim estate (Image: Blenheim Palace and Bluesky International 2024) "The importance of restoring natural habitats to increase biodiversity, capture carbon, and protect species that inhabit them, is something we are seeing more and more of our customers turn to us for support."

The Bluesky data is also providing insights into the estate’s colony of Purple Emperor butterflies, which dwell in the highest point of the tallest trees.

The height data can be used to map the best locations for the butterflies, allowing for advanced monitoring and identification of areas needing special protection.