The Agri-Drone Revolution Meets UK Conservation

At AutoSpray Systems, our purpose is to revolutionise UK agriculture through the safe, smart, and sustainable use of autonomous drone technology. We’re proud to announce a groundbreaking new chapter in that journey, a project that extends our expertise from farming to national conservation.

The ‘Beyond Restoration’ project is a landmark collaboration with the National Trust, the Woodland Trust, and the North Pennines National Landscape, all backed by the government’s Future Flight Challenge.

Our mission is to test whether specially-authorised autonomous drones can provide a scalable, commercially-viable blueprint for restoring Britain’s precious landscapes.

The Problem: A Crisis of Scale and Access

Large parts of the UK’s vital peatland and woodland ecosystems are degraded and their restoration is slow and labour-intensive. Peatlands, in particular, are powerful carbon stores, but when damaged, they can become emitters rather than absorbers. The sheer size and remoteness of these areas, combined with challenging terrain and weather, make restoration work a painstaking and expensive process for manual teams.

The Solution: A Technological Breakthrough

The ‘Beyond Restoration’ trial, running from October 2025 to March 2026, is tackling these challenges with cutting-edge technology. The key to this work is a regulatory breakthrough: AutoSpray’s unique BVLOS (Beyond Visual Line of Sight) Operational Authorisation under the Atypical Air Environment framework. Unlike conventional permissions that are distance-defined, our authorization is not, which allows us to operate across vast, remote areas.

Our pilots, who undergo the UK’s first commercial BVLOS course, operate a fleet of XAG P100 Pro heavy-lift drones. These drones are equipped with certified ADS-B OUT capability and Mode S transponders to ensure complete airspace awareness and safety.

This approach complements the invaluable manual work of our partners while offering a new way to reach inaccessible sites. As Andy Sproson, our COO, explains: “This project isn’t just about testing a concept. It’s about delivering a scalable, commercially-viable solution that makes an enduring difference to landscapes across the UK, from the North Pennines to the Peak District.”.

We’re backing the next generation of British aviation businesses whose transformative technologies will reshape how we live and work in the years to come.

We are excited to be working with Beyond Restoration on this key project that brings together leading conservation partners and experienced drone operators to tackle the challenges of restoring sensitive natural environments in an effective, safe and scalable manner. This will both accelerate the route to commercial operations and deliver real-world impact.

AutoSpray has been working at the cutting edge of drone innovation for the last 5 years. And the ‘Beyond Restoration’ project is an opportunity to apply that innovation to valuable conservation schemes: restoring our precious landscapes with efficiency and at scale.

The state of nature and our climate needs us to work at scale and pace. Technology, such as these drones, could be part of the solution. Being part of the trial will help us explore the effectiveness and potential uses of this type of technology in our conservation work to restore healthy peatland which will help to counter climate change and support diverse wildlife habitats.

Drones have the potential to unlock exciting new opportunities for woodland creation and restoration at locations and scales previously not possible with more conventional methods.

There is a need for more extensive restoration in order to meet the Government’s targets for peatland restoration by 2050, and this could be an exciting innovation to support this work.

Bringing together public sector land managers in complex drone projects shows how strong advocacy can help shape the path of technology. We’re proud to play that role in Beyond Restoration, working alongside partners such as the National Trust, North Pennines National Landscape, and the Woodland Trust, as well as engaging closely with regulators including the HSE and CAA.

Kier Mather MP, Aviation Minister
Vicki Murdie, Future Flight Innovation Lead at Innovate UK
Andy Sproson, COO of AutoSpray Systems
Craig Best, National Trust’s Peak District General Manager
Rob Daulby, Assistant Outreach Adviser for Northern England at the Woodland Trust.
Lisa Gill, Field Officer at the North Pennines National Landscape
Aleks Kowalski, Skypointe aviation consultancy

Project Goals and Impact

This project brings together technology and conservation to achieve tangible, real-world impact.

Peatland Restoration (National Trust & North Pennines National Landscape)

The trial is focused on using drones to precisely direct materials like sphagnum moss gel, lime, and fertiliser to bare peat slopes. The National Trust will explore the technology’s effectiveness in locations such as the Peak District, with the goal of restoring healthy peatland to help counter climate change and support diverse wildlife habitats.

Woodland Restoration (Woodland Trust)

The trial aims to seed new native trees across over 40 hectares at five BVLOS-approved sites. The use of drones helps overcome the challenges of seeding in remote or steep areas that are unsafe for human planters, introducing a diversity of seeds that promote natural selection and resilience. As the Woodland Trust’s Rob Daulby notes, “Restoring and expanding woodland is vital to solving the climate and biodiversity crises,” and drones offer new opportunities to address this at scale.

Project Partners and Supporters

A Blueprint for the Future

The ‘Beyond Restoration’ project is a powerful example of how innovation can deliver tangible solutions to pressing environmental challenges. By showcasing the efficiency and effectiveness of this technology, we hope to establish a blueprint for future environmental recovery efforts across the UK, contributing directly to national targets for woodland and peatland restoration.

As Craig Best of the National Trust says, “Technology, such as these drones, could be part of the solution,” and we are excited to be at the forefront of this new, vital industry. .

To explore the full details, including extended quotes, press release and a comprehensive media pack, please email: pr@autospraysystems.com

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