What drone services does CAV Aerial offer?

CAV Aerial provides drone roof inspections, thermal imaging, 3D models, and campaign video production. All flights are insured and GVC-certified.

Who are your typical clients?

We work with architects, conservation officers, builders, councils, heritage trusts, church wardens, and private homeowners across the UK.

Are your services suitable for churches and listed buildings?

Yes, we specialise in drone documentation for sensitive sites, including listed buildings and churches. We're registered with the National Churches Trust network.

Roof & Heritage Drone Surveys

In collaboration with the London Gardens Trust, we were recently invited to use aerial drone photography and videography to document the remarkable Barbican Wildlife Garden — a secluded green treasure set against the stark elegance of London’s brutalist Barbican Estate.

This unique project gave us the chance to blend architectural storytelling with nature conservation, capturing both the historical and ecological significance of the site.

Barbican Estate: Concrete, Community, and Conservation

Built in the 1960s over land devastated by WWII bombings, the Barbican Estate is one of London’s most iconic examples of post-war brutalist architecture. But what not everyone knows is that beneath these concrete towers lies a lush, resident-led wildlife haven — one of the few in central London.

While the surrounding towers were carefully designed, the plot now known as the Barbican Wildlife Garden was almost lost to commercial development or dereliction.

That is, until the residents stepped in.

How Residents Transformed a Derelict Plot into a Wildlife Haven

The Barbican Wildlife Garden is a story of local passion and environmental activism. Faced with the potential loss of the land, a group of Barbican residents claimed it, revitalising the space into a thriving wildlife habitat. Their mission? To create a peaceful sanctuary for:

Wildflowers
Native plants and herbs
Birds, insects, and bees
Community history and heritage

It’s now home to two ponds, over a dozen grass species, established trees, and — unexpectedly — a hidden war-era bunker, discovered beneath brambles during our aerial survey.

City of London Police Horses: A Surprising Ally in Conservation

Each year, the City of London Police horses are invited into the garden to use their natural weight to aerate and condition the soil.

It’s a time-honoured, low-tech method of land management that helps keep this historic garden healthy — and a touching example of how many hands (and hooves) have worked together to preserve this special space.