For the first time across Grosvenor’s three UK rural estates, we captured the most accurate information on record of the soils and all living things that make up our environment, enabling us to make more informed decisions that promote nature recovery and climate resilience.

Alongside existing data, we worked with specialist consultants and partner organisations to undertake an extensive ground-truthing exercise.

A series of science-led surveys were carried out across the rural estates, including using specialist planes mounted with lasers to develop 3D models of the land that are accurate to 5cm, soil organic carbon sampling – measuring the soil’s ability to store carbon and water – sampling swathes of peatland as well as an innovative pilot investigating whether environmental DNA in soils can be used as an early indicator of ecological biodiversity and therefore soil health.

This data was then analysed in partnership with Liverpool John Moores University Natural Capital Hub to identify the benefits to people and wildlife that flow from the land, such as carbon storage, flood mitigation and sustainable food production, and to enable us to prioritise where action needs to be taken and measure improvements.