Abseiling ecologists scale Blenheim Palace’s historic Grand Bridge to monitor bat colonies

A team of ecologists abseiled down the side of Blenheim Palace’s historic Grand Bridge to monitor bat colonies roosting inside.

The survey is taking place ahead of a multi-million pound restoration project on the estate in Woodstock, Oxfordshire. 

The bridge, which was designed by 18th-century architect and playwright John Vanbrugh, will be part of the reconstruction that gets under way next year. 

The survey is taking place ahead of a multi-million pound restoration project on the estate in Woodstock, Oxfordshire

Guy Miller, who is a licenced bat ecologist with qualifications in aerial rescue and tree climbing, was one ecologist to abseil down the side of the iconic Grand Bridge.

He used high-specification thermal imaging cameras and bat echolocation detectors to inspect features which could support bats and breeding birds. 

The Blenheim Estate, which was the birth place of Sir Winston Churchill, is known to support a wide variety of bat species including the rare barbastelle, the range-restricted lesser horseshoe bat and maternity sites for Daubenton’s bat.

Guy Miller, who is a licenced bat ecologist with qualifications in aerial rescue and tree climbing, was one ecologist to abseil down the side of the iconic Grand Bridge 

The bridge, which was designed by 18th-century architect and playwright John Vanbrugh, will be part of the reconstruction that gets under way next year

The design, which houses 33 rooms including a boathouse and a bathing house, was partially submerged as part of Capability Brown’s grand re-design of the estate in 1763

The bridge, which houses 33 rooms including a boathouse and a bathing house, was partially submerged as part of Capability Brown’s grand re-design of Blenheim’s lakes and parkland in 1763.

All UK bat species, along with their breeding sites and resting places, are fully protected by law.

Ecologists are therefore keen to find out as much as possible about their movements and habits in order to safeguard them.

Richard Bowden, Blenheim Estate’s historic buildings and conservation surveyor, said: ‘Part of our responsibility when planning work in the World Heritage Site includes understanding the ecology of the area.

High-specification thermal imaging cameras and bat echolocation detectors were also used to identify any roosts

All UK bat species, along with their breeding sites and resting places, are fully protected by law and so ecologists aim to find out as much as possible about their habits to safeguard them

‘We knew the bridge was being used by bats during the summer months but we weren’t sure exactly where they were roosting, nor which species they were.

‘The latest results are extremely informative and we will use them, along with data gathered from previous surveys, to ensure any restoration work carried out on the bridge will not adversely affect the ecology and particularly the bats.

‘We will also look at providing additional roosting opportunities within the bridge and the Estate in a bid to further secure and hopefully increase wild populations.’