SNH Phase 1 Habitat Surveys: Archived Vegetation and Wildlife Habitat Polygons

Phase 1 habitat survey polygons provide a broad record of semi-natural vegetation and wildlife habitat across large areas of countryside. The dataset is an archived collection from the Government Digital Service, made available in 2017 but containing data primarily from the 1980s and 1990s. The habitat classification is based on vegetation, topography, and substrate features.

Use Cases

• Mapping historical habitat distribution based on the polygon survey data.
• Analyzing changes in semi-natural vegetation over time by comparing with newer surveys.
• Classifying habitats using the described vegetation and topographic feature system.

Strengths

• Covers large areas of countryside, providing a broad spatial record.
• Habitat classification incorporates multiple features: vegetation, topography, and substrate.
• Explicitly archived status clarifies its non-current maintenance and vintage.

Limitations

• Data is dated, with records mainly from the 1980s and 1990s.
• Dataset is archived and no longer updated or maintained.
• Does not comply with modern standards like the INSPIRE Directive or EUNIS classification.

Provenance

Source

Government Digital Service

Collection Method

Phase 1 habitat surveys conducted to rapidly record semi-natural vegetation and wildlife habitat.

Time Range

Primarily 1980s and 1990s.

Freshness

Archived; last updated date is unknown.

Geography

Large areas of countryside (specific region not stated).