Crowdsourcing conservation with Monument Monitor

We have over 300 properties in our care and, whilst our conservation teams undertake routine maintenance visits, we can’t be at all of them at once! However, historic properties are popular tourist attractions and visitors are frequently snapping and sharing photos of them.

This is where Monument Monitor steps in! We're inviting visitors to be part of a nationwide crowdsourcing conservation project by sending us their photos. Your images enable our teams to keep tabs on the sites remotely.

Monument Monitor is the product of a PhD research project by Rosie Brigham, in collaboration with the Institute for Sustainable Heritage, UCL. Since 2018, it has helped us make some great discoveries and contributed to important conservation work. You can see some examples below.

As you explore the site, keep an eye out for specific signs which will tell you more about what we are monitoring and what we would like photos of. Participating sites include a healthy mix of castles, Neolithic monuments, churches and Iron Age forts. You can see where you can get involved below.

Simply follow the guidance on the signs, then send your images to mm@hes.scot

• Monument Monitor terms and conditions
• Monument Monitor privacy policy

Using your pictures to monitor ground water flooding, we've been able to model how climate change will affect the stone circles on Machrie Moor. We're also closely monitoring increased levels of water at the foot of the Drumtroddan Standing Stones, as well as increased levels of rainfall around Rough Castle on the Antonine Wall. At Tarves Tomb, we're assessing how changing levels of damp are affecting the structure.

As instances of extreme weather increase, we're using Monument Monitor to check in in on exposed sites like the Ness of Burgi and the Ring of Brodgar, which are often subject to powerful wind and rain. The weather has also contributed to erosion at Kelso Abbey. Your photos help us monitor the condition of the abbey's stonework, and chart examples of high level masonry that may have fallen to the ground. 

Monument Monitor also allows us to track the impact of biodiversity.

At Achnabreck, Baluachraig and Drumtroddan we're finding out how moss, lichen and grass growth has changed the appearance of prehistoric rock art and carvings. Plant growth and other biodiversity changes are being monitored at Doune Castle, Carn Ban and at Lincluden Collegiate Church. At Lincluden, we're specifically looking for examples of Himalayan Balsam, an invasive species with a striking pink flower.

The impact made by the burrowing of local rabbits has been seen at Tealing Souterrain (Earth House), whilst cattle have been known to wear away the turf walls at places like St Blane's Church. Monument Monitor also lets us know about roosting bats at Castle Semple Collegiate Church.

Monument Monitor gives us insight into human, as well as animal, activity. For example, we're monitoring erosion in and around Clava Cairns, an ancient site which been very popular with fans of the Outlander TV series.

Sadly, not everyone enjoys our historic places responsibly. We're monitoring instances of littering and anti-social behaviour at Aberdour and Ravenscraig castles, Kilwinning Abbey, Lincluden Collegiate Church and St Bridget's Kirk. Wild camping and campfire damage are a concern at Loch Doon Castle.

On a more positive note, visitor photos are contributing to a growing library of images of the beautiful painted ceiling at St Marys Church, Grandtully. This will provide our paintings conservators with clear examples of how the painted panels appear over time.

And at the Maiden Stone we use your snaps to understand how the Pictish carvings look in different light conditions. Sometimes the artwork is very hard to see, but when you get it just right these carvings are dazzling!