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Staggering drone images reveal 11 heron nests perched on 100ft treetops at 17th century stately home

Breathtaking aerial images have revealed 11 heron nests perched 100ft in the treetops of a 17th century stately home.

The amazing pictures captured the scenes at the heronry at the National Trust run Belton House in Grantham, Lincs.

It is the first time a drone has been used for the British Trust for Ornithology’s (BTO) annual census.

The flying gizmo hovered 50ft above the treetops and 100ft above the ground in order to take detailed pictures of the heron nests.

A total of 11 active nests were discovered clustered together in the branches of a Scots pine – nine more than experts expected to find.

Breathtaking aerial images have revealed 11 heron nests perched 100ft in the treetops of a 17th century stately home. It is the first time a drone has been used for the British Trust for Ornithology’s (BTO) annual census

The herons likely live near the Scots Pine tree because of its easy access to Belton’s ornamental ponds and rivers, which the National Trust has been actively managing and improving. Each nest contained 3-4 eggs produced from the 22 breeding birds

The herons were discovered at the Belton House in Grantham which is run by the National Trust. The organisation has been working with Environment Agency and others to restore the stretch of the River Witham that runs through the Belton estate

Each nest contained 3-4 eggs produced from the 22 breeding birds.

Ecologist Andrew Chick, who conducted the survey, said: ‘This statuesque bird is often spotted alongside rivers across the country, where it waits patiently to capture its prey – mainly fish, amphibians, small mammals, insects, and eels.

‘They can live up to 20 years, growing to around one metre high, with an impressive wingspan of 1.85 meters and can weigh up to 1.5kg.

‘They usually lay their first egg in mid-March, so quite early, and only have one brood per year.

‘These herons have probably chosen to nest in this particular Scots Pine tree because of its easy access to Belton’s ornamental ponds and rivers, which the National Trust has been actively managing and improving.

‘It’s likely the herons have been present at Belton for decades, but thanks to the view from above this year we’ve been able to get a much more accurate record of how many are nesting in the heronry.’

Grey heron numbers have been increasing in the UK in recent years, but have declined in Lincolnshire.

Carl Hawke, Nature Conservation Adviser at the National Trust, said: ‘It’s great news to discover our heronry at Belton is much larger than previously thought.

‘We have been working in partnership with Environment Agency and others to restore the stretch of the River Witham that runs through the Belton estate.

Herons can live up to 20 years, growing to around one metre high, with an impressive wingspan of 1.85 meters and can weigh up to 1.5kg. They usually lay their first egg in mid-March, and only have one brood per year

Annual counts take place every spring as part of the British Trust for Ornithology’s (BTO) Heronries Census, starting in 1928

‘This has included restoring the natural features that were missing, for example increasing the speed of the flow of the river in some places, putting in gravel to create shallow areas and creating riffles – spawning areas, to attract species like white clawed crayfish and wild brown trout.

‘Later this year we plan to recreate wetland habitat alongside the river that will benefit the herons further.’

‘We’re not really sure why numbers had previously dropped here.

‘It could be down to a number of factors such as competition for nesting sites with other birds, or possibly the effects of intensive farming on waterways, it’s difficult to know for sure.

‘But it’s clear that the conservation work we have done here at Belton is having a positive effect on the breeding population which is fantastic.’

Annual counts take place every spring as part of the British Trust for Ornithology’s (BTO) Heronries Census, which started in 1928.

Last year’s census collected data from 796 sites and close to 9,500 grey heron nests were recorded.

The 2021 census collected data from 796 sites, recording almost 9,500 grey heron nest. The conservation work at Belton is having a large impact on the population, which could be down to a few factors, such as intensive farming on waterways

Restoring the stretch of river required such interventions as  increasing the speed of the flow of the river in certain areas, putting in gravel to create shallow areas and creating spawning areas, to attract species such as white clawed crayfish



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