Blenheim Palace joins nature lovers everywhere to celebrate United Nations World Wildlife Day (March 3rd), to recognise the unique roles and contributions of wildlife to people and the planet.
As a World Heritage Site and Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), The Blenheim Estate which surrounds the world-famous Blenheim Palace is a rich haven of flora and fauna all year round, from honeybees to water voles, fawns to bats – with magical moments awaiting the many visitors who explore the Palace, Parkland and woodlands, including:
- Since discovering multiple colonies of native honeybees in the park, the Estate team has been protecting the fragile ecosystem this species relies on. Last year, Blenheim Palace also opened its Rowse Honey Hive, the latest initiative in its ongoing partnership with Rowse Honey, which aims to enhance and expand habitats for pollinators across the Estate, creating a natural environment where wildlife can not only survive, but thrive.
- The Oxfordshire estate is one of the richest bat locations in the region, supporting at least 12 of the UK’s 17 resident species. Bats recorded on the Blenheim Estate include the rare Barbastelle, Lesser Horseshoe and Nathusius’s Pipistrelle. It is estimated there are hundreds of these flying mammals living across the Blenheim Estate.
- As part of the major Lake Dredge of the Queen Pool at Blenheim Palace, the team identified that the water vole habitats at the lake edge would be disturbed by vehicle and equipment movement. Before work commenced they undertook a ‘Remo-voles’ program – working closely with ecologists to trap and translocate the water voles to a safe place for the duration of the dredge works.
- The Butterfly House at Blenheim Palace is a wonderful environment for visitors to learn more about a myriad species of tropical butterflies, including Red Lacewing’, ‘Emerald Peacock’ and the stunning ‘Blue Wave’.
- Blenheim Estate is home to a healthy population of Canada geese and, in manageable numbers, their grazing forms a vital part of the ecosystem around the lakes.
Roy Cox, Managing Director – Estates, commented: “While we celebrate the abundance of wildlife on the Blenheim Estate, the incredible richness of the park’s plant and animal life and its natural beauty are no accident; it takes a dedicated team to carefully maintain the balance of life here, protecting what makes Blenheim wonderful, and ensuring future generations can enjoy it as we all do.”
For more information or to purchase tickets to visit Britain’s Greatest Palace and its stunning grounds visit, www.blenheimpalace.com/tickets-booking/