Survey reveals extraordinary biodiversity of UNESCO World Heritage site Blenheim Estate’s ancient woodland
High Park is home to more than 2,800 separate species
A new survey has revealed the incredible biodiversity of Blenheim Estate’s ancient woodland.
Begun in 2016, the survey has revealed the Oxfordshire UNESCO World Heritage Site’s ancient High Park is home to more than 2,800 separate species.
Led by world-renowned botanist Aljos Farjon, who is based at Kew, the project has highlighted the sheer diversity of life the centuries-old oak woodland supports.
Mr Farjon and his team have also recorded a total of 275 ancient oaks with a girth of five metres or larger in High Park - the highest number of oaks of this size and age on any site in Europe.
He believes the Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) may be one of the most important in England as the numbers of different species discovered in just four years already puts it on a par with far more intensively studied locations.
He said: “The total numbers of moths and beetles found are already remarkable, as is the overall total of species given the relatively short time and few visits made since 2016.
“The figures we already have suggest that High Park, Blenheim, would score as high or higher than comparable sites in England where extensive surveys into biodiversity have been carried out over decades.”
More than 60 different birds including goshawks, peregrine falcons, spotted flycatchers and redstarts have been recorded. Among the 19 mammals spotted are stoats, field voles, fallow deer, badgers and nine different bat species.
The site is also home to at least 243 different beetles; including 25 types of dung beetle – many of which are thought to have arrived since the introduction of a herd of British white cattle to browse the woodland.
More than 600 species of moth and more than 20 butterfly species have also been identified, along with 35 arachnids and 161 different ants, wasps and bees. One of the more unusual bee species is Osmia spinulosa, which nests in empty Roman snail shells.
Among the seven different reptiles and amphibians present are common lizards, slow worms, grass snakes, great crested newts and toads.
In addition to the varied fauna, High Park also supports 275 types of plants and flowers and so far, a total of 334 fungi have been recorded.
One of the main reasons for High Park’s rich biodiversity is the fact it has remained virtually untouched for centuries and the site is still mostly closed to visitors.
Blenheim Estates director Roy Cox said: “Protecting our precious natural resources and making our land the best it can be is a key element of our wider land strategy.”
“The benefits of improved natural capital from the clean air, open spaces and vibrant woodlands we are seeing in High Park are vital for biodiversity, but of equal importance is looking after these nationally significant assets for our next generations” he added.
The public will soon have the opportunity to take home a part of the ancient forest as oak saplings grown from tiny acorns collected in the woods will be available from the Blenheim Palace shop.
Blenheim Palace in the spring
Blue underwing moth (Catocala fraxini) Picture: Pedro Pires
Lichen survey on one of the ancient oaks in High Park, Blenheim
Female slow worm (Anguis fragilis)
White cattle browsing in the ancient woodland at Blenheim
