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

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.

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.

This dataset is a soil map of England and Wales at 1:250000 scale. NATMAP Vector shows the locations of the 297 distinct soil associations wherever they occur within the countries. Each soil associations has multiple soil series. This hierarchical data structure allows for easy integration with the series-based, non-spatial SOILSERIES data, linking this tabular data with the spatial framework. NATMAP Vector is the most detailed of four versions of the National Soil Map. It 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. In addition, other NATMAP products are also available, at different prices and scales, including simplified gridded representations, top and subsoil texture, wetness, available water, and soil carbon datasets.

The indicative soils map classifies the soils of Ireland on a categorically simplified but cartographically detailed basis into 25 classes, using an expert rule based methodology. Produced by Teagasc (Kinsealy), EPA and GSI.

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 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.

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.

Data are derived from the James Hutton Institute’s (and its predecessors, Macaulay Institute for soil Research and Macaulay Land Use Research Institute) 1:250 000 Scale National Soil Data (revised version 2013) and 1:25, 000 scale Soils Data (part of Scotland) (revised version May 2016) to assess the carbon richness of soil and presence of deep peat and from the Land Cover Scotland 1988 (LCS88) data to define priority peatland habitats. The methodology built upon the approach published in SNH information note 318 for the categorization of carbon rich soil and Bruneau et Johnson (2011) to derived information on priority peatland habitat. Further information and access to all reports via SNH website https://www.nature.scot/professional-advice/planning-and-development/planning-and-development-advice/planning-and-development-soilsGIS methodology (simplified):1 - Creating a single soil layer with carbon attribute. Joins created between the 1:25k and 1:250k data and their respective tables. Add carbon class value2 - Reclassifying of LCS88 for priority peatland habitats and defined new Peatland_class based on relative distribution of primary and secondary habitats types.3 - Creating a join between above data using Carbon and Peatland lookup tables.What the map is:The map is a high-level planning tool to promote consistency and clarity in the preparation of spatial frameworks by planning authorities.The map is a predictive tool which provides an indication of the likely presence of peat on each individually-mapped area, at a coarse scale. The types of peat shown on the map are:• Carbon-rich soils• Deep peat• Priority peatland habitatDevelopment Plans are expected to include wind farm spatial frameworks (paragraph 161 in SPP) – these should be informed by the Carbon and Peatland 2016 map (it maps the carbon-rich soils, deep peat and priority peatland habitat listed in Table 1 in SPP).Spatial frameworks can provide more than just an initial steer in the development plan. They can help to inform the scoping stage of an EIA and provide a framework for site selection, environmental assessment and decision-making.What the map shows:The map shows the areas of peat referred to in Table 1 in SPP – carbon-rich soil, deep peat and priority peatland habitat. On the map, the top two classes (1 and 2) taken together identify the nationally-important resource:Class 1 Nationally important carbon-rich soils, deep peat and priority peatland habitat - Areas likely to be of high conservation valueClass 2 Nationally important carbon-rich soils, deep peat and priority peatland habitat - Areas of potentially high conservation value and restoration potential*Priority peatland habitat is land covered by peat-forming vegetation or vegetation associated with peat formation.Areas of highest value (class 1) warrant the most careful consideration because their combined soil and habitat characteristics indicate a strong likelihood they include carbon-rich soil, deep peat and priority peatland habitat.Other classes include:Class 3 Dominant vegetation cover is not priority peatland habitat but is associated with wet and acidic type. Occasional peatland habitats can be found. Most soils are carbon-rich soils, with some areas of deep peatClass 4 Area unlikely to be associated with peatland habitats or wet and acidic type - Area unlikely to include carbon-rich soilsClass 5 Soil information takes precedence over vegetation data - No peatland habitat recorded. May also show bare soil. All soils are carbon-rich soil and deep peat.Class -2 Non-soil (i.e. loch, built up area, rock and scree)Class -1 Unknown soil type - information to be updated when new data are releasedClass 0 Mineral soils - Peatland habitats are not typically found on such soils.How the map could be used:The purpose of the map is to inform the preparation by planning authorities of spatial frameworks for onshore wind. It has been created to help provide a consistent approach across Scotland.The map provides planning authorities with the information they need to implement SPP. SPP requires PAs to develop spatial frameworks for onshore wind – and Table 1 in SPP sets out what should be shown in these spatial frameworks. Alongside other areas to be included, planning authorities are required to include carbon-rich soils, deep peat and priority peatland habitat – and to afford these areas significant protection, although this is not a ban on development.Although the map can only indicate that carbon-rich soils, deep peat and priority peatland habitat are likely to be present, it will be helpful in the initial site selection process undertaken by developers. The map should not be used in development management decision-making. A detailed site survey and EIA will be required.SNH’s guidance on spatial planning emphasises: ‘The location of a proposal in the mapped area does not, in itself, mean that the proposal is unacceptable, or that carbon rich soils, deep peat and priority peatland habitat will be adversely affected. The quality of peatland tends to be highly variable across an application site and a detailed assessment is required to identify the actual effects of the proposal.’Spatial Planning for Onshore Wind Turbines – natural heritage considerations, SNH June 2015 https://www.nature.scot/doc/guidance-spatial-planning-onshore-wind-turbines-natural-heritage-considerations-june-2015The map should be used in conjunction with SNH guidance Spatial Planning for Onshore Wind Turbines – natural heritage considerations (https://www.nature.scot/professional-advice/planning-and-development/planning-and-development-advice/renewable-energy/onshore-wind-energy)Attribute definitions:OBJECTID_12 - identifierPRIMARY - Primary vegetation classes of the LCS88 dataset - CodePRIMARY_LA - Primary vegetation classes of the LCS88 dataset - descriptionSECONDARY - Secondary vegetation classes of the LCS88 dataset - CodeSECONDARY_ - Secondary vegetation classes of the LCS88 dataset - descriptionCONC_CODE_ - Combined value of Recoding of Primary vegetation LCS88 class and Secondary vegetation LCS88 class according to peatland vegetation interestLCS88_RECL - Peatland Habitat category ( 0, A1,A2, B, C1, C2, D, E) based on CON_CODE_valuesQMUNIT, QMUNIT – For 1:250,000 scale data onlyASSOC - Soil association – For 1:250,000 scale data onlyCOMPSOIL - Soil type description - For 1:250,000 scale data onlySMU_CODE - Soil Map Unit – For 1;25,000 scale data onlyPHASE_CODE - Soil phase – For 1:25,000 scale data onlyASSOC_NAME - Soil Association - For 1:25,000 scale data onlySMU_NAME - Soil map unit name - For 1:25,000 scale data onlyMSG_Comb - Major soil group (Scotland soil classification revised 2013) of main soil type (code) – For all dataMSSG_Comb - Major soil sub group (Scotland soil classification revised 2013) of main soil type (code) - all dataMSSG_Name - Major soil sub group (Scotland soil classification revised 2013) of main soil type (name) – For all dataCONC_CARBO - Soil carbon code - for all dataCONC_CODE1 - Combined Soil carbon code (CONC_CARBO) and Peatland habitat category ( LCS88_RECL) - For all dataIMPORTANCE - Carbon and Peatland class – For all dataFor detail see part 3 of SNH Carbon-rich soils, deep peat and priority peatland habitat mapping - consultation analysis report (A1590738 – available from https://www.nature.scot/professional-advice/planning-and-development/planning-and-development-advice/planning-and-development-soils)

An understanding of the potential of different areas within a landscape to support different woodland types is crucial to planning the restoration and expansion of native woodland. The Native Woodland Model has been developed as a strategic tool to aid those involved in such projects, whether on currently unwooded land or in non-native forest plantations. It is suitable for use at scales above 1:50,000. The methodology relies on the interpretation of integrated soils and land cover data in relation to the growth requirements of different woodland types. Combinations of these attributes are assessed and an optimal native woodland type is assigned to each combination. This is a very pragmatic model and uses major soil subgroup and geology (effectively soil series in a Scottish context), rather than specific attributes and thresholds. This is then qualified by land cover which has been used to assess how the soil may or may not have been modified by human intervention. The approach might best be described as ‘map unit interpretation’, qualified by knowledge of current land cover (from LCS88, although LCM2000 is equally valid and possibly more so because of its currency). References:Towers, W., Hall J., Hester, A. Malcom, A. and Stone, D. (2004) The potential for native woodland in Scotland: the native woodland model. Scottish Natural Heritage.Towers, W., Hester, A.J., Malcolm, A., Stone, D. and Gray, H. (2002) The use of soils data in natural heritage planning and management. Soil Use and Management, 18, 26-33. Hester, A.J., Towers, W. and Malcolm, A. (2003) Modelling the potential distribution of woodland at the landscape scale. In: The restoration of wooded landscapes (Eds. J. Humphrey, A. Newton, J. Latham, H. Gray, K. Kirby. E. Poulson and C. Quine). Forestry Commission, Edinburgh. Towers, W., Hester, A.J., Malcolm, A., Hall, J. and Stone, D. (2004) The potential for native woodland in Scotland: the native woodland model. Scottish Natural Heritage, Battleby, Perth. Natural Heritage Management Series. 56p. Includes CD ROM. ISBN 1 85397 390 4 For more information on the Native Woodland Model, refer to http://www.landis.org.uk/services/ukso.cfm.

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 England Peat Map is a map of England's peaty soils. It models the extent, depth, and condition of our peat including vegetation and upland peat erosion & drainage features (grips, gullies, bare peat and peat hagging). The map and, where possible, the associated data, are available openly and free to use for any purpose. This map is funded by the Nature for Climate Fund and the Natural Capital and Ecosystem Assessment (NCEA) programme, both part of the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA). The map layers were created using machine learning and deep learning modelling techniques, trained with pre-existing survey data collated from Defra organisations and other stakeholders, as well as new survey data collected by contractors and quality-assured by an in-house team. Predictor data used in the modelling process included national-scale satellite imagery, topographic LiDAR, geological and historic land-use data. Data collated from multiple sources and collated by the England Peat Map project. See NERR149 England Peat Map Final Report Annex 5 for more information. Vegetation cover of peaty soils as modelled by the England Peat Map project. The ‘vegetation and land cover on peaty soils’ map layer currently has some areas (covering approx. 4% of the predicted peaty soil extent) where we have not yet provided a vegetation or land cover class. We will be providing a completed version of this map layer later in 2025. We will also publish a new map layer describing the probabilities for each class at every location (not just the most likely class, which is the ‘vegetation and land cover on peaty soils’ map layer). Full metadata can be viewed on environment.data.gov.uk.

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.

THIS DATASET HAS BEEN WITHDRAWN and superseded by UK ecological status map version 2 (https://catalogue.ceh.ac.uk/id/58b248a8-6e34-4ffb-ae32-3744566399a2). A spatial indicator of ecological status for valuation of biodiversity across the UK, based on species occurrence records was developed. UK species occurrence data were collated from the Biological Records Centre (BRC). The mean ecological status was calculated across all taxonomic groups for the 2000 to 2013 time period, relative to the species richness maximums from the 1970-1990 time period, showing differences as colours.

A spatial indicator of ecological status for valuation of biodiversity across the UK, based on species occurrence records for 11 taxonomic groups (Bees, Birds, Bryophytes, Butterflies, Carabidae, Hoverflies, Isopoda, Ladybirds, Moths, Orthoptera and Vascular plants) was developed. UK species occurrence data were collated from the Biological Records Centre (BRC). The mean ecological status was calculated across all taxonomic groups for the 2000 to 2013 time period, relative to the species richness maximums from the 1970-1990 time period. This version supersedes the dataset "UK ecological status map".