Soilscapes is a 1:250,000 scale, simplified soils dataset covering England and Wales. It was created from the far more detailed National Soil Map (NATMAP Vector) held by Cranfield University, with the purpose of communicating effectively a general understanding of the variations which occur between soil types, and how soils affect the environment and landscape of the two countries. Soil exerts a strong influence on our whole ecosystem, being the foundation for many of the ecosystem services and functions recognised, and is a fragile resource that needs to be understood and protected.Soilscapes is one of our most popular datasets - and to encourage a wider understanding of soils, web access to this data is now made freely accessible. Soilscapes does away with confusing terminology, enabling informed decision-making by non-soil scientists who need to understand soil and how it affects broad landscapes. Using the Soilscapes web mapping service, it is simple to build up a good understand of many fundamental soil-landscape processes for any region across England and Wales.For more information about soils and soils data please visit the LandIS - Land Information System www.landis.org.uk

mixed sampling type - incorporates all previous detailed soil mapping augmented by a reconnaissance survey at 2-3/kme This dataset does not contain any soil parameter information. It can be associated with parameter information on the basis of soil type

National coverage of the main soil types across Scotland mapped originally at 1:250 000 scale. The map is based on the systematic survey of the soils of Scotland 1947 and 1981. This dataset is the digital (vector) version of the paper Soils of Scotland 1:250,000 maps and is a reconnaissance scale soil map. This dataset is an inventory of the soils of Scotland and is the only soil map that covers all of the country. This version includes both the original 1984 and the 2013 soil classification, some minor polygon corrections and some alterations to the symbology used for display.

The original maps were published in the 1980s as 7 separate sheets with an associated handbook. They can now be viewed on, and downloaded from, The James Hutton Institute website. (www.hutton.ac.uk/soil-maps)

The dataset should be cited as: Soil Survey of Scotland Staff (1981). Soil maps of Scotland at a scale of 1:250 000. Macaulay Institute for Soil Research, Aberdeen. DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.4646891.

Metadata can be found at: https://spatialdata.gov.scot/geonetwork/srv/eng/catalog.search#/metadata/B7E65842-C041-4950-BF0C-3AF06C2DBAE7

This work was funded by the Rural & Environment Science & Analytical Services Division of the Scottish Government.

The database gives soil organic carbon, sand, silt and clay contents and bulk density weighted to reference layers from 0 to 30 cm and from 30 to 100 cm depths. The data are interpolated from information on soil types and land use on a 1 km grid across the UK and are used to estimate soil carbon stocks. The objective of this research was to derive high-resolution spatial data on soil and land-use data for use by dynamic simulation model of carbon fluxes from soils resulting from land-use change.

The Soil Spatial Distribution was based on the revised 1:250,000 national soil map for England and Wales, the 1:250,000 national soil map for Scotland and the 1:50,000 soil series map for Northern Ireland. Soil profile information were derived from the Soil Reference database and the National Soil Inventory for England and Wales, the Scottish soil database and the attribute database of all soil horizons at a 5km inspection pits sampled as part of the Department for Agriculture and Rural Development soil survey. References:Bradley, R.I., Milne, R., Bell, J., Lilly, A., Jordan, C. and Higgins, A. (2005) A soil carbon and land use database for the United Kingdom. Soil Use and Management 21:363-369.For more information on the Topsoil Carbon Stocks Map, refer to http://www.landis.org.uk/services/ukso.cfm.

This map of the soils of England is a simplified version of the National Soil Map and has been produced by the National Soil Resources Institute (NSRI) of Cranfield University with support from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. It shows, in simple terms, what the likely soil conditions are at any point in the landscape by reference to one of 27 different broad types of soil

Soil map for England and Wales — WRB 2006 tier 1 version

mixed sampling type - generalised soil map, partly derived from a 1:50,000 map of the soils of Scotland. The soil classification used was updated in 2013 This dataset does not contain any soil parameter information. It can be associated with parameter information on the basis of soil type.

30 arc-second grid database with over 16,000 different soil mapping units that combines existing regional and national updates of soil information worldwide (SOTER, ESD, Soil Map of China, WISE) with the information contained within the 1:5,000,000 scale FAO-UNESCO Soil Map of the World (FAO, 1971-1981). The resulting raster database consists of 21600 rows and 43200 columns, which are linked to harmonized soil property data. The use of a standardized structure allows for the linkage of the attribute data with the raster map to display or query the composition in terms of soil units and the characterization of selected soil parameters (organic Carbon, pH, water storage capacity, soil depth, cation exchange capacity of the soil and the clay fraction, total exchangeable nutrients, lime and gypsum contents, sodium exchange percentage, salinity, textural class and granulometry).

NATMAP vector is a vector dataset and is the most detailed of four versions of the National Soil Map. is derived from the National Soil Map for England and Wales and is the product of sixty years of soil survey work in England and Wales.

The Geological Survey of Northern Ireland (GSNI) and the British Geological Survey (BGS) completed a regional geochemical survey of Northern Ireland's soils, sediments and waters between 2004 and 2006.

Soil sampling of all of Northern Ireland was completed under the Tellus survey between 2004 and 2006. Soil samples were collected on a systematic basis from rural areas in most of the region, excluding only the major urban centres of Belfast and Bangor. Soils were also collected at a higher sampling density from the urban areas of Belfast, Bangor, Carrickfergus, Carryduff, Castlereagh, Greenisland, Holywood, Lisburn, Newtownabbey and Londonderry, although these urban results are not reported here.

In rural areas, samples were collected from alternate 1 km Irish national- grid squares. Site selection within each square was random, subject to the avoidance wherever possible of roads, tracks, railways, human habitation and other disturbed ground. At each site two composite samples of five auger flights were collected, each composite sample comprising approximately 750 g of unsieved material. Samples were collected using a hand auger with a 20 by 5 cm flight from a standard depth interval of 5–20 cm for designated ‘A’ samples, referred to subsequently as ‘surface soils’, and at 35–50 cm for designated ‘S’ samples (nominally the B horizon), referred to subsequently as ‘deep soils’. Some 6,862 regional soil sites were sampled (see supplementary map - soil locations) and analysed, resulting in an average regional sampling density of 1 site per 2 km2. Observations of soil colour, depth, clast lithology and abundance were recorded at site. The samples were classified into five textural groups (sand, sand-silt, silt, silt-clay and clay).

The methods used for urban soils were similar except that (1) the sample density was higher, at four sites per square kilometre; (2) the sample sites corresponded closely to a predefined grid and did not avoid areas of human influence. In addition, extra samples requiring special treatment were taken for the determination of selected organic constituents (Smyth, 2009: especially Appendix 1).

At each soil sample site, information on the location, site and catchment geology, contamination, land use, and other features required for data interpretation were entered onto field cards. The sample location was also plotted on a field copy of the 1:50 000 Ordnance Survey of Northern Ireland (OSNI) map.

Observations from field cards were entered into a digital Access2000™ database after undergoing a field quality control process (Lister et al, 2005). This involved checking that the correct codes had been recorded on field cards and that GPS coordinates recorded on the card matched those in the GPS unit for each site. Thus both a traditional paper archive of observations was maintained as well as the construction of a computerised database.

Soils were initially air-dried at the field-base prior to transport to the sample store where they were dried in a temperature controlled oven at 30°C for 2–3 days. At the end of each field campaign samples were checked against field sheets prior to packing for transport to the BGS laboratory for sample preparation. On arrival at the laboratory samples were checked against shipping lists prior to assigning laboratory batch numbers in the BGS UKAS Quality Assurance System. The A and S soils were prepared in the same manner in a trace-level sample preparation laboratory.

Samples were disaggregated prior to sieving to a <2 mm fraction using nylon mesh. Replicate samples were prepared by riffle splitting each of the duplicate samples. Soil pH and LOI was determined for every A surface soil sample. A representative 30 g (± 2 g) sub-sample was obtained by cone and quartering. This sub-sample was then milled in an agate ball mill at 300 rpm for 30 minutes.

Different analytical procedures were employed for the surface and deep soils. Pressed pellet production and XRF analysis were completed by laboratory on surface soils only. Sub-samples of milled soil were weighed and placed into tamper-evident plastic sample tubes. The XRF pressed pellet was prepared by adding an aliquot (3 g ±0.05 g) of two blended synthetic waxes comprising 90 % EMU 120 FD wax and 10 % Ceridust (both waxes are styrene based co-polymers) to 12 g (± 0.05 g) of milled material. This mixture was milled for 4 minutes at 300 rpm. On completion of the binder milling the prepared powders were placed into tamper evident plastic sample tubes for temporary storage prior to pellet preparation. Pellets (40 mm) were pressed using a calibrated Herzog semi-automatic pellet press at 25 kN.

Prior to analysis, concealed certified reference materials and secondary reference materials were inserted into the sample batches. XRF analysis of the A samples was undertaken at the BGS; ICP analysis of A and S samples at SGS Laboratories, Toronto; and fire-assay of S samples at SGS Laboratories, Toronto.

For the Tellus samples, Energy Dispersive Polarised X-Ray Fluorescence (ED(P)- XRF) spectrometers were used to analyse those elements for which the WD-XRF spectrometers were insufficiently sensitive. Certified Reference Material (CRM) standards were used to calibrate the instruments. The PANalytical software was used for spectral deconvolution and to fit calibration curves, applying matrix correction by internal ratio Compton correction method. The calibrations were validated by analysis of a wide range of RMs. The detectors were calibrated weekly. All backgrounds and peaks were corrected for instrument drift using two external ratio monitors, when required. Quality control was maintained by regular analysis of two glass monitor samples containing 47 elements at nominally 30 mg/ kg and 300 mg/kg. Results were presented as run charts for statistical analysis using statistical process control software (SPC).

The lower limits of detection are theoretical values for the concentration equivalent to three standard deviations (99.7 % confidence interval) above the background count rate for the analyte in an iron-rich alumino-silicate matrix. For silicate matrices the practical detection limits for most elements approach the theoretical values due to high instrumental stability. LLDs were calculated from a matrix blank and the ‘synthetic’ Pro-Trace standards.

Individual results are not reliable below the quoted lower limits, but reliable estimates of the average or typical values over an area may be obtained at lower levels of concentration; meaningful distribution patterns may thus be recognised for some elements at levels lower than the LLD.

The data are described in Young, Mike; Donald, Alex, eds. 2013 A guide to the Tellus data. Belfast, UK, Geological Survey of Northern Ireland, 233pp. available for free download from: http://nora.nerc.ac.uk/509171/

The Tellus survey was funded by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment (DETI), now the Department for the Economy (DfE) in Northern Ireland and the INTERREG IVA programme of the European Union (EU) Regional Development Fund.

This is a digital soil map of the Moor House - Upper Teesdale National Nature Reserve. Mapped polygons represent a range of soil types. The site lies in the North Pennine uplands of England and has an area of 74 km2. It is England's highest and largest terrestrial National Nature Reserve (NNR), a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and a European Special Protection Area. Habitats include exposed summits, extensive blanket peatlands, upland grasslands, pastures, hay meadows and deciduous woodland. Altitude ranges from 290 to 850 m. Moor House - Upper Teesdale is part of the Environmental Change Network (ECN) whcih is the UK's long-term environmental monitoring programme. Full details about this dataset can be found at https://doi.org/10.5285/b36357bd-988c-41fa-a3a8-3b21cef5f0b6

This digital dataset was created by the James Hutton Institute (previously Macaulay Institute for Soil Research) by digitising the Soils of Scotland 1:25,000 Soil maps and the Soils of Scotland 1:25,000 Dyeline Masters. The Soils of Scotland 1:25,000 Soil maps were the source documents for the production of the the Soils of Scotland 1:63,360 and 1:50,000 published map series. Where no 1:25,000 published maps exist 1:63,360 maps have been digitised for this data set, the field SOURCE_MAP describes the source of the data. The classification is based on Soil Associations, Soil Series and Phases which reflect parent material, major soil group, and soil sub-groups, drainage and (for phases), texture, stoniness, land use, rockiness, topography and organic matter. Phases are not always mapped. In general terms this dataset covers the arable areas of Scotland. Not all of the available source documents have been digitised. Should there be a requirement for other areas to be captured, the Internal Contact should be contacted in the first instance. The attributes on each map (coverage) are specific to that map sheet, but in general terms the following categories are mapped: soil association, soil series, parent material, soil complexes, soil phases, skeletal soils, alluvial soils, organic soils, miscellaneous soils, mixed bottom land, built-up area, quarries/disturbed ground, collieries/bings, golf courses. This version of the data is Phase Three and it supercedes Phases One & Two; it was released on 4th March 2015. This includes all the data previously issued, however the data with an attribute value of '3' in the attribute ReleasePhse has been revised in this release. Revisions to the remaining parts of the data set will follow in subsequent phases.The attribute table for this Phase 3 revision incorporates new column names compared to previous releases of this data which fit within the naming protocol for soil attributes within Scotland’s National Soils Database and is progressing towards a seamless integration of datasets.The Phase 2 release contained new attributes describing soil parent materials, landforms and component soils within soil complexes. The landform descriptions only apply to soil complexes as this information was not systematically recorded for soil series. Names and codes for major soil subgroups (using the 2013 soil classification system) and soil series are listed for up to eight component soils within soil complexes. This release (Phase 3) also includes the full MSSG list for soil complexes. To ensure compatibility over all four phased releases of these datasets, the content of these new fields may be revised during the preparation of Phase 4 as new information emerges.This release includes changes to Strichen and Arkaig Associations, see Lineage, below.

mixed sampling type - incorporates all previous detailed soil mapping augmented by a reconnaissance survey at 2-3/kme This dataset does not contain any soil parameter information.

Survey name: Bishop Auckland, Etherley Grange (Wear Valley L.P.) Post 1988 Agricultural Land Classification (ALC) site survey data - scanned original paper maps and survey reports for individual sites surveyed in detail between 1989 and 1999 by the Ministry of Agriculture Fisheries and Food. Where Grade 3 is mapped this includes the subdivision of Grade 3 into subgrades 3a and 3b. Surveys use the current grading methodology as described in "Agricultural Land Classification of England and Wales," a link for which is provided with the data. Individual sites have been mapped at varying scales and level of detail from 1:5,000 to 1:50,000 (typically 1:10,000). Unedited sample point soils data and soil pit descriptions are also available for some surveys. Attribution statement: Natural England copyright. Contains Ordnance Survey data. Crown copyright and database right [year]. Attribution statement: © Natural England copyright. Contains Ordnance Survey data. Crown copyright and database right [year].

The dataset is a Soil Corrosivity Map for the U.K. based on the BGS DIGMapGB-PLUS Map. The creation of this dataset involves scoring the Soil Parent Material types for five different attributes that contribute towards the corrosion of underground assets. These are (i) high or low soil pH, (ii) general soil moisture, (iii) the likelihood that soil saturated and undergo periods of anaerobic conditions, (iv) the presence of sulphides and sulphates and (v) the resistivity of the soil parent material. The scoring of each of these parameters was undertaken based on the Cast Iron Pipe Association (CIPA) (now the Ductile Iron Pipe Research Association, DIPRA) rating system. By combining the scores of each parameter a GIS layer has been created that identifies those areas that may provide a corrosive environment to underground cast iron assets. The final map has been classified into three categories signifying: 'GROUND CONDITIONS BENEATH TOPSOIL ARE UNLIKELY TO CAUSE CORROSION OF IRON', 'GROUND CONDITIONS BENEATH TOPSOIL MAY CAUSE CORROSION TO IRON', 'GROUND CONDITIONS BENEATH TOPSOIL ARE LIKELY TO CAUSE CORROSION TO IRON'. The dataset is designed to aid engineers and planners in the management of and maintenance of underground ferrous assets.

mixed sampling type - free survey with focused sampling This dataset does not contain any soil parameter information. It can be associated with parameter information on the basis of soil type.

The National scale land capability for agriculture spatial dataset provides information on the types of crops that may be grown in different areas dependent on environmental and soil characteristics. This map covers the entire country and it can be used to determine the areas most suited to growing crops or grazing livestock.

The digital dataset contains information on the 'class' of soil. Soil classes range from Class 1 (land capable of producing a wide range of crops) to Class 7 (land of very little agricultural value). Land within Class 3 is subdivided to provide further information on potential yields; Classes 4 and 5 are further divided to provide information on grasslands; Class 6 is divided on the quality of the natural vegetation for grazing. Classes 1 to 3.1 are known as prime agricultural land.

The Land Capability for Agriculture assessment was carried out in 1981 using data collected between 1978 and 1981. The National scale land capability for agriculture map was then created in 1983 at a scale of 1:250 000. The map should be cited as: 'Soil Survey of Scotland Staff (1981). Land Capability for Agriculture maps of Scotland at a scale of 1:250 000. Macaulay Institute for Soil Research, Aberdeen.10.5281/zenodo.6322683'.

There is an accompanying booklet that describes the classification in more detail and set out the rules and guidelines to be used. This booklet should be referenced as: Bibby, J.S., Douglas, H.A., Thomasson, A.J. and Robertson, J.S. (1991) Land capability classification for agriculture. Soil Survey of Scotland Monograph. The Macaulay Institute for Soil Research. Aberdeen. ISBN -0-7084-0508-8.

The spatial dataset is provided under the James Hutton Institute open data licence included within the zipped dataset.

The maintenance of this dataset is funded by the Rural & Environment Science & Analytical Services Division of the Scottish Government. The data can also be downloaded from or viewed at https://www.hutton.ac.uk/soil-maps/ or viewed at https://soils.environment.gov.scot.

THE CLASSES
Class 1. Land capable of producing a very wide range of crops with high yields
Class 2. Land capable of producing a wide range of crops with yields less high than Class 1.
Class 3. Land capable of producing good yields from a moderate range of crops.
Class 4. Land capable of producing a narrow range of crops.
Class 5. Land suited only to improved grassland and rough grazing.
Class 6. Land capable only of use as rough grazing.
Class 7. Land of very limited agricultural value.

Survey name: Wathcote, Darlington Road Post 1988 Agricultural Land Classification (ALC) site survey data - scanned original paper maps and survey reports for individual sites surveyed in detail between 1989 and 1999 by the Ministry of Agriculture Fisheries and Food. Where Grade 3 is mapped this includes the subdivision of Grade 3 into subgrades 3a and 3b. Surveys use the current grading methodology as described in "Agricultural Land Classification of England and Wales," a link for which is provided with the data. Individual sites have been mapped at varying scales and level of detail from 1:5,000 to 1:50,000 (typically 1:10,000). Unedited sample point soils data and soil pit descriptions are also available for some surveys. Attribution statement: Natural England copyright. Contains Ordnance Survey data. Crown copyright and database right [year]. Attribution statement: © Natural England copyright. Contains Ordnance Survey data. Crown copyright and database right [year].

Survey name: Emsworth, S Of Havant Rd

Post 1988 Agricultural Land Classification (ALC) site survey data - scanned original paper maps and survey reports for individual sites surveyed in detail between 1989 and 1999 by the Ministry of Agriculture Fisheries and Food. Where Grade 3 is mapped this includes the subdivision of Grade 3 into subgrades 3a and 3b. Surveys use the current grading methodology as described in "Agricultural Land Classification of England and Wales," a link for which is provided with the data. Individual sites have been mapped at varying scales and level of detail from 1:5,000 to 1:50,000 (typically 1:10,000). Unedited sample point soils data and soil pit descriptions are also available for some surveys. Attribution statement: Natural England copyright. Contains Ordnance Survey data. Crown copyright and database right [year].

Provisional Agricultural Land Classification Grade. Agricultural land classified into five grades. Grade one is best quality and grade five is poorest quality. A number of consistent criteria used for assessment which include climate (temperature, rainfall, aspect, exposure, frost risk), site (gradient, micro-relief, flood risk) and soil (depth, structure, texture, chemicals, stoniness) for England only. Digitised from the published 1:250,000 map which was in turn compiled from the 1 inch to the mile maps.More information about the Agricultural Land Classification can be found at the following links:http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20130402200910/http://archive.defra.gov.uk/foodfarm/landmanage/land-use/documents/alc-guidelines-1988.pdfhttp://publications.naturalengland.org.uk/publication/35012.Full metadata can be viewed on data.gov.uk.