Blenheim Palace to count trees on estate using cutting edge aerial photography

Blenheim Palace has introduced cutting edge aerial photography to count the number of trees on its 850 hectare estate.

It will use 15 years of data supplied by Leicestershire-based Bluesky International to analyse the impact of conservation work to increase woodland.

The detailed aerial images will provide conservationists with an insight into the number of trees and how woodland canopy is changing over time on the grounds around the Palace famed for being the birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill.

Data will also give an insight into the estate’s colony of Purple Emperor butterflies, which is believed to be the largest of its kind.

Three years ago, Blenheim planted a 150 hectare-site – the largest tree planting site in southern England.

Officials will now use Bluesky’s National Tree Map technology to track its progress, while comparing it with historical data of the park as a whole over the last 15 years.

Lessons learned from the data will inform future planting activity and offer insight into further planning strategy.

David Gasca, Head of National Capital at Blenheim Palace, said:

“Pinpointing locations through the aerial data means we can direct specialists to the site to develop plans to assess ecological preferences of the species, and help protect and enhance them in future planting strategies.

“Knowing where our oldest trees are located means we are able to better tell the story of the estate’s natural history."

Several species on the estate rely on the trees for their habitats.

Among them are the Purple Emperors, which dwell in the highest point of the tallest trees in Blenheim’s woodland.

Because National Tree Map also provides height data, analysis can also be made as to the estimated size of the butterfly colony, which is believed to be the largest of its kind.

The data will also show how tree coverage has changed over time.

“The National Tree Map imagery shows one site, Langford Locks, has transformed from primarily-grazing land with few trees to a densely wooded area,” said David. 

“This has been achieved through natural regeneration and makes us wonder what can be achieved across the estate as a whole.”

Among other areas mapped is the Estate’s High Park area, which has the highest concentration of ancient oaks in Europe.

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

now. Again, the new data helps to age the trees and understand how the landscape has changed and regenerated itself. 

David will be looking to overlay the old imagery with the current Bluesky data to inform other planting programmes.

He said: “There is a big drive nationally to plant trees, but this data to track and monitor

gives us insight as to how the trees are evolving.”