English Heritage digitising woodland management using asset software

Historic site charity English Heritage is partnering with Yotta to digitise management of its 38,000 trees with Alloy asset management software

Using Alloy, English Heritage will monitor its trees and woodlands to assess risk arising from age, damage or disease, ensuring both the safety of its millions of visitors and staff, and the health of the landscape.

Staff will be able to accurately log threats or damage to trees and woodland, helping sustain wildlife and biodiversity at historically important sites such as the 1066 Battle of Hastings Abbey and and the former royal residence of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, on the Isle of Wight.

The adoption of Alloy from Causeway Technologies subsidiary Yotta will allow for streamlining of tree management processes for vastly greater efficiency.

Previously, English Heritage’s experts needed to rely entirely on spreadsheets and manual, paper-based methods to manage its tree estate.

Initially, English Heritage plans to complete a baseline survey of all 38,000 trees by the end of 2022, with arboricultural work required after the survey being managed, tracked and recorded through Alloy as an end-to-end, fully digital process.

Data will be fully integrated in a single system so staff can more easily manage each tree or group of trees as required, with field inspectors being able to use the Alloy mobile app to upload notes and file reports about trees.

“Alloy will make a huge difference to our work. Managing thousands of trees and maintaining the health of landscapes across 400 sites is a substantial task,” said Jamie Cain, senior estates manager at English Heritage.

“With this software we’ll be able make a big leap forward in terms of efficiency, by adopting a data-driven approach that will enable us to better manage our day-to-day operations and look ahead to combat new threats from climate change, and emerging pests and diseases.”

Nick Smee, CEO of Yotta, commented: “It’s exciting for Alloy to support the work of English Heritage in the care and management of so many of the country’s most historic and beautiful landscapes.

“English Heritage is highly respected for its expertise and commitment to standards, and Yotta will work collaboratively to help streamline the efficiency of tree-management processes, providing a future-proof solution.”

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