Drones take flight to help restore Peak District ravine woodlands - Natural England

First-of-its-kind drone seed-spreading trial of ravine woodlands launches in the Peak District to tackle ash dieback on hard-to-reach slopes.

A pioneering drone seed-spreading trial has taken to the skies above the Peak District, as the “LIFE in the Ravines” project led by Natural England explores innovative new ways to restore precious ravine woodlands devastated by ash dieback disease.

The trial, believed to be one of the first of its kind in a steep, compact ravine woodland setting, used specially designed drones to spread a mix of native tree seeds across a 0.75-hectare plot at Dovedale and a similar area at Lathkill Dale. The seeds, including field maple, wych elm, alder, small-leaved lime, birch, rowan, yew, goat willow, crab apple and holly, have been carefully selected from the project planting palette for ravine woodland restoration.

The steep, rocky sides of Dovedale and Lathkill Dale present a major challenge for conservation teams. While traditional tree planting and seeding has been carried out across the Peak District Dales as part of the wider project, and by the teams at Natural England and the National Trust, some slopes are simply too dangerous or difficult to work on by hand. Drones offer a potentially safe, efficient and cost-effective alternative, mimicking the natural way seeds would disperse if mature trees were already present.