A transformative partnership between Vodafone UK and the UK National Parks will use the power of Vodafone’s network and cutting-edge technology to help protect ecosystems, engage local communities, and support the future of the National Parks.
Landscape Observatory will act as the delivery vehicle for the pioneering AI-powered habitat mapping research which the partnership will initially focus on across all fifteen parks. This will help transform the approach to conservation, by securing detailed habitat and biodiversity data in just a fraction of the time it would take to produce manually. Vodafone will also use its innovative technology to help provide the National Parks with real-time, high-resolution data on biodiversity, visitor impact and habitat health.
Nationally funded via the Protected Landscape Partnership Incubator hub, Landscape Observatory will lead the development and deployment of advanced AI and geospatial analytics with Cranfield University to generate high-resolution, real-time environmental data, turning complex datasets into actionable insights for National Park Authorities, land managers, and policy-makers.
David Alexander, research lead at Landscape Observatory and researcher at Cranfield University, said:
“Landscape Observatory is proud to be the delivery vehicle for this cutting-edge AI habitat mapping research. This research will translate complex environmental data into meaningful intelligence that empowers National Parks to manage their landscapes more effectively and respond dynamically to our rapidly warming climate.”
The partnership will include a programme of initiatives designed to support access to nature and drive awareness of the health benefits it can bring. These projects will focus on how to increase engagement with the natural world, help more people access the National Parks, and support the existing 90 million annual visitors as they explore everything the National Parks have to offer.
Vodafone will provide cutting-edge technology solutions to underpin the project, including geolocation-based footfall analytics, IoT sensors, smart wireless cameras, and its innovative Network as a Sensor platform. Together, these tools will deliver vital data on ecological conditions, biodiversity trends, and visitor impact within protected landscapes.
This collaboration between Vodafone, UK National Parks, Cranfield University and Landscape Observatory demonstrates how industry, universities and public sector bodies can unite to harness innovative technologies for the benefit of the environment and public wellbeing.
For further information on Landscape Observatory, please contact Sarah Rowley, Strategic Development E: sarah.rowley@peakdistrict.gov.uk
About the Vodafone UK and UK National Parks partnership
The partnership will run for an initial three years and will include the following projects:
Delivery of AI-powered habitat mapping across all fifteen National Parks. Vodafone will leverage its innovative technology solutions to provide analytics on user geolocation and footfall data, as well as using IoT sensors and smart wireless cameras, undertaking geospatial mapping, and using Network as a Sensor data to support UK National Parks with real-time, high-resolution data.
A new engagement programme in Northumberland National Park which will engage individuals from a diverse range of backgrounds, collaborating with them to ensure they can enjoy, learn and protect nature, to improve their health and wellbeing.
The restoration of drystone walls and hedgerows in Eryri National Park: a key feature of Eryri is the patchwork field systems created by traditional boundaries (hedgerows and drystone walls), which are essential for local habitats to flourish. Restoring and repairing these hedgerows will benefit water quality and habitat connectivity, enable carbon sequestration and have pollinator benefits, while drystone walls will support toads, lizards, snakes, stoats and butterflies.
Together, these projects will demonstrate how technology can support nature and ensure more people feel connected to it. Further projects will be announced throughout the three-year partnership.
About Vodafone UK
Vodafone UK is a technology communications company that connects people, businesses and devices to help our customers benefit from digital innovation. Our services span mobile, fixed-line connections, home and office broadband, and the Internet of Things (IoT).
We have a strong track record as a tech pioneer, making the UK’s first mobile phone call, sending the first text message, and making the UK’s first live holographic call using 5G in 2018. We were the first to start carrying live 5G traffic from a site in Salford, Greater Manchester and now have 5G in locations across Germany, Ireland, Italy, Spain as well as the UK. Meanwhile, our 4G network coverage currently reaches over 99% of the UK population.
Today, Vodafone serves more than 18 million mobile and fixed-line customers in the UK. Vodafone is the largest provider of full fibre in the UK – our superfast broadband services are now available to nearly 12 million homes across the UK.
Sustainability is also at the heart of what we do: as of 1 July 2021, 100% of the grid electricity we use in the UK is certified to be from renewable sources.
For more information about Vodafone UK, please visit: www.vodafone.co.uk.
About National Parks Partnerships
National Parks Partnerships (NPP) unites companies, investors, and environmental funders with all fifteen UK National Parks to drive positive change for people, nature, and climate. Spanning the iconic landscapes of the Peak District, Lake District, Eryri, Dartmoor, Pembrokeshire Coast, North York Moors, Yorkshire Dales, Exmoor, Northumberland, Bannau Brycheiniog, The Broads, Loch Lomond & The Trossachs, Cairngorms, New Forest, and South Downs, NPP operates at a national level to foster partnerships that enhance and protect these vital natural areas.
Since its inception in 2016, NPP has formed impactful partnerships with leading global brands, including BMW UK, Santander UK, and Estée Lauder Companies UK & Ireland. NPP’s comprehensive approach identifies and develops key projects in need of support, offering diverse opportunities such as deploying green finance through the Revere: Investing in Nature initiative with Palladium, to supporting innovative nature-based solutions that preserve and restore biodiversity, to staff engagement, joint marketing campaigns, in-kind contributions, and thought leadership. By aligning with both global and UK-based brands, NPP creates bespoke partnerships that deliver meaningful, lasting impact in National Parks and surrounding communities.
Visit www.nationalparks.co.uk
NPP on LinkedIn
For further information, contact Bec Butler, Senior Partnership Communications Manager
E: bec.butler@nationalparks.co.uk