Here I have read throught the Phase 1 Habitat survey handbook and noted the most informative areas.
Introduction
The Phase 1 Habitat survey was developed to map wildife habitats over large areas of countryside and later to clarify habitat definitions through classification and coding. This could be over large areas of countryside or specific habitats such as grasslands or woodlands.
The nature and condition of vegetation, topographic and substrate features are what the Phase 1 Habitat survey is based upon as this is easier to observe than animals.
The Phase 1 survey sets a baseline for monitoring change and it will also determine if a Phase 2 habitat survey is needed and what sites should be given protection through SSSIs, LNRs etc.
They are generally needed for planning applications and they help in the production and evaluation of EIAs and countryside strategy e.g. Environmental Stewardship Schemes.
Methodology
A trained surveyor will visit the survey area and the vegetation observed is mapped onto Ordnance Survey maps as a colour code, usually on a scale of 1:10,000 to provide a rapid visual assessment.Dominant species are described in target notes.
The extent and distribution of each habitat type are measured on the maps to provide statistics which is one of the end products of a Phase 1 Habitat survey as well as habitat maps and target notes suppoted by an interpretable report to gain knowledge of location, extent, distribution and nature of these habitats to aid in nature conservation.
To prepare for the survey aerial photography and satellite imagery such as LANDSAT and SPOT systems can be used to provide an overview of an area and its boundaries if not apparant on an Ordnance Survey map. As an example broadleaved trees can be distinguished by crown shape in conifer plantations and stereoscopes are very useful to distinguish habitat features.
Other information such as previous habitat surveys, records, maps and descriptive information should also be collected to complement the survey.
When preparing the survey consideration must be given to the time of year:-
Woodlands in spring
Grassland in mid-summer
Heathlands in Autumn
Open waters between mid-June and end of September.
The ecological calendar-click here.
The approximate time of completing a 1:10,000 scale habitat map (5x5km) is around 2 weeks. Firstly the field survey and production of a fair copy map, then final copy map then analysis of final map using a dot grid. The longest part is the field survey and fair copy which is 8-10 days.
Surveyors begin fieldwork around April time after training for a period of 2 weeks in the field. Minimum training includes:
- Field ID of bog mosses, flowering plants, grasses, sedges and rushes, ferns and club mosses (vascular plants).
- Use of binoculars
- Mapping techniques for vegetation surveys
- Navigation, route finding which should be marked on surveyors field map
- Planning a days survey
- Negotiating access
- Habitat ID
- Indicators of trophic states
- Soils
- Management
- Writing target notes
If picking plants for ID follow the BSBI Code of Conduct.
Office equipment needed includes Romer dot grids for measuring areas and determining grid references, T-squares, set squares and Rotring drawing pens (0.35mm, 0.5mm).
During the initial stages of planning any survey, County and district councils should be approached and asked to endorse the proposals. They may be able to use powers under the 1971 Town and Country Planning Act (section 280) to provide access for the purpose of the survey.
The survey:
Firstly binoculars should be used to spot potentially interesting sites and eliminate arable areas which can be mapped from that point. They are also used to identify land-use patterns, field boundary changes and as short range to examine fields from gateways and footpaths in order to determine species diversity in the main body of field as many species can be identified from a distance.
When recording habitats and boundaries in the field, lettered of alphanumeric codes can be used or coloured pencils. These are entered directly onto the large scale map (1:10,000) with the Ordnance Survey showing contour lines.
Colour is preferable for areas that have large amounts of semi-natural vegetation. On a map of scale 1:10,000 habitats of 0.1 hectares minimum and 1:25,000 lager than 0.5 hectares should be mapped.
Once the survey is complete information is transferred from field maps to fair maps. The extent of each of the different types of habitat are measured and expressed as a percentage, for example the total semi-natural area can demonstrate the status of a given habitat in a survey area.
There are around 90 habitat categories in phase 1 classification that are combined to give 34 categories for measurement. When measuring area on a map, power dot grids should be used and recorded on specially designed forms so that data can be readily retrieved and manipulated which makes it easier to calculate parameters such as the number of habitat blocks larger than 1 km in a county.
Hedges, road verges etc are expressed as length unless grassland or scrub is wider than 25m, as are ditches, streams and rivers (2.5mm at 1:10,000), if wider they are included in area measurement as running water.
Limitations on interpreting habitat maps:
- Errors
- It's based on vegetation not animal communities
- Habitat changes may have occured since the map was produced
- If a habitat is a smaller area than specified minimum it is not mapped
- There is only one site visit, therefore communities are missed due to seasonal effects
- Complete species lists are not attempted-rarities may've been overlooked
Categorising sites: Sites are categorised on 3-point scale .
1. Site of high conservation priority
2. Site of lower priority for conservation
3. Site of limited wildlife interest
The principles and criteria used in evaluating wildlife habitats are set out in 'A nature conservation review' (Ratcliffe 1977) and 'Wildlife conservation evaluation (Usher 1986), also 'Guidelines for selection of SSSIs (NCC 1989)
Urban areas
The Phase 1 Habitat survey states that 'there is no clear boundary between rural and urban areas. The transition from one to the other may be gradual and extend over considerable distance'. Urban surveys required further categories and these were added in 1986 which were:
- Amenity grassland (only closely mown)
- Introduced shrub (non-native shrubs, single and multiple species, stands), but if native species dominates this should be mapped as shrub.
Urban Phase 2 surveys are mainly based upon a 'Conspectus of Urban Vegetation Types' by Shimwell (1983) which describe some 160 plant communities of urban habitats but the 'National Vegetation Classifications (Rodwell in prep) will probably supersede Shimwells'.
Habitat Maps
To provide a rapid visual assessment of habitat types the final habitat maps should be in colour and colour coded.
- It is normal to use Standard Beral Verithin colour pencils.
- Hatched line should be spaced 2.5mm to 5mm apart depending on size of habitat unit and these should be at 450 to the vertical except if shade and orientation of the habitat.
- Cross hatching lines should intercept at 900 (a set square and ruler or T-Square can be used or Linex Hatching Apparatus)
- If no marked boundary between habitats a dashed line in black ink (0.35mm) should be used to separate habitats
- Minimum mappable area for 1:10,000 scale is about 0.1 hectare for solid colour and 0.25 hectare for hatching (1.25,000 is 0.5 and 1.5 respectively). Smaller areas should be marked with a target symbol and described in a target note
- Linear areas less than 25m wide should be a single coloured line marked with a target symbol and described in a target note if of interest and the same for marginal vegetation (hedges, roadside verges etc)
- Acid grassland can be confused with calcareous grassland when on hills due to intersection of orange hatching with brown contour lines (but lines for acid grassland can be drawn at 5mm spacing and calcareous at 2.5mm)
- Scattered vegetation is superimposed onto underlying vegetation
Target Notes
To enable others to make a comparison and preliminary assessment of a nature conservation site, land use, land management and wildlife interest reduced or destroyed, information in target notes is essential and they should always include:-
'• habitat type or types present together with their dominant plant species;
• other species of note;
• need for further survey if relevant.
Where time and resources allow, the following elements may also be included:-
• a description of the habitat structure, topography and substrate;
• a description of the plant communities present;
• details of any noteworthy animal associations;
• a note of any known rare species of plant or animal;
• notes on past, present or proposed management practices;
• details of ownership (if found in passing);
• details of any form of site protection;
• notes on any changes, particularly if damaging,that have occurred recently, or are taking place,
or are threatened;
• reference to, or results of, any previous surveys and finally a list of key words, is helpful in the preparation and computerisation of target notes'.
If a site is target noted then a red target symbol is used on the corresponding habitat. A full grid reference, date and initials of the surveyor, site name given, information from previous surveys and information in section 6.2 should also be included. Vernacular names van be used for habitat description but specify 'Oak' for example to avoid ambiguity.
Target notes can be typed in numerical order of grid references with notes for each 1km square starting on a fresh page identified by a four figure grid reference for the square. Only areas considered to be of significance should be covered, however this can be subjective.
Each 5km or 10km should also have a general description of geology, topography and nature conservation interest.
The Report
This will take around 10-12 man-weeks to produce and write and it must describe how the survey was carried out and the nature of the area to be surveyed. A summary of the habitat statistics should be presented in tables, pie charts and distribution maps to provide a quantitative statement, The descriptive section will discuss the results and indicate current and threatened change. The RSPB uses a manual by Evans 1986 for use in habitat classification and recording on their reserves.
FIELD MANUAL
Habitat definitions are based on those used by NCC for surveying SSSIs and the NVC is used to show expected communities in Phase 1 habitat category.
Habitat types and definitions
Woodland and Scrub
Woodland (A1) definition: ' Vegetation dominated by trees more than 5 m high when mature, forming a distinct, although sometimes open canopy'.
When recording woodland areas, the understorey and ground layers are target noted and dominant species are coded. Distinct blocks of wood should be mapped separately e.g. broadleaved or coniferous.
Main categories of woodland and scrub:
- Broadleaved woodland - 10% or less broadleaved trees in the canopy
- Coniferous woodland -10% or less broadleaved in the canopy
- Mixed woodland - 10-90% of either broadleaved or conifer in the canopy. Approximate proportion should be target noted
- Scattered woodand - less than 30% of the area but higher than 30% with sizeable open spaces or ridges. The gorund flora should be target noted
- Semi-natural woodland - species and blocks that have not been planted and will generally reflect natural variations in the site and its soil
- Planted trees - less than 30% of the canopy = semi-natural
- Planted trees more than 30% of the canopy = plantation
- Ancient woodland - see Kirby et al 1984 and more.....
- Plantation woodland - obviously planted woodland of any age
- Scrub - definition: ' seral or climax vegetation dominated by locally native shrubs, usually less than 5m tall, occasional scattered trees. Dominant species is coded and ground flora under scattered scrub coded or target noted....and more....
Parkland and Scattered Trees (A3):
-Less than 30%tree cover
- Scattered trees over pasture, heath, bog or limestone pavement etc must be recorded as a green dot/s corresponding to density of trees against the backround habitat colour
- Dominant species coded
- Exotic trees target noted
Recently felled woodland (A4):
- Only included when the future land-use is uncertain
- Dominant species coded
Grassland and marsh (B):
- Includes herbaceous vegetation dominated by grasses and certain wet communities dominated by Juncus species, Carex species, Filipendula ulmaria or by other marsh herbs
- More than 25% of dwarf shrub heaths on grassland = heathland
- Emergent stands of tall reed grasses = swamp
- Coastal grasslands = saltmarsh, dune, maritime cliff and slope
Improved grassland = repeated grazing, mowing, fertilising drainage or herbicide treatment. It is difficult to define improved, semi-improved and unimproved to precision as these types provide a continuum. Agricultural improvement usually results in a decrease in floristic diversity and dominated by quick growing grasses such as Lolium perenne, Holcus lanatus and Festuca rubra.
- Grassy verges along roadsides, railways and roads may be very important features if in an intensively farmed area.
Amenity grassland
Unimproved grassland:
- High species diversity reflecting area and soils.
- Low percentage of agricultural species
Semi-improved grassland:
- Low natural diverse range of species than those found on unimproved grasslands due to being modified by practices such as artificial fertilisers, slurry or intensive grazing.
- Can still be of conservation value as it may originate from partial improvement of acid, neutral or calcareous grassland.
- Should be aware of species composition of semi-improved condition in the locality of the survey.
Acid grassland (B1):
- Acid soil, pH less than 5.5
- Species poor, wet or dry dwarf shrub heath (but less than 25% of this)
- Typical species are Dechampsia flexuosa, Nardus stricta, Juncus squarrosus, Galium saxatile and Rumer acetosella.
Neutral grassland (B2):
- Areas such as hay meadows, water meadows and alluvial meadows.
- Wide range of communities occuring on neutral soils (pH 5.5-7.0)
- Typical species include Alopecurus protenis, Arrhenatherum elatius, Cynosurus cristatus, Dactylis glomerata, Deschamsia cespitosa, Festuca arundinacea and Festuca pratenis. Lolium perenne may be present but if abundant than it's probably improved grassland.
- May be inundated periodically such as with Glyceria species, Alopecurus geniculatus, Poa trivialis and Polygonum hydropiper.
Calcareous grassland (B3):
- Not managed intensively and occur on calcareous soils (pH 7 and above).
- Species include Brachypodium pinnatum or Bromus erective (tall grass areas).
- Short, close-grazed areas include Koeliria macrantha, Avenula pratensis, Sesleria albicans, Helianthemum nummularian, Sanguisorba minor and Thymus praecox.
Improved grassland (B4):
- Meadows and pastures so affected by heavy grazing, application of inorganic fertilisers and herbicides
- Limited range of grasses and a few common forbs e.g. Lolium perenne, Cynosurs cristatus, Trifolium repen, Rumex acetosa, Bells perennis, Taraxacum officinale, Ranunculus acris and Ranunculus bulbosus.
- Stands of dock, Rumex species, common nettle Uritica dioica and thistles Cirsiurn species indicate local enrichment of the soil by grazing animals
Marsh/marshy grassland (B5):
- Covers certain Molina grasslands, grasslands with a high proportion of Juncus species, Carex species or Filipendula ulmaria.
- Wet meadows and pastures with ccommunitites such as Caltha palustris or Valeriana species with broadleaved herbs rather than grasses predominate.
- Not swamp category as swamps have a water table above the substratum for much of the year and dominated by reed grasses or large sedges.
- Occurs on more or less level areas.
- Differs from flush as bryophytes are not a conspicious component of the vegetation and flushes always have a flow or seepage of water through them.#
Marshland communities:
- 25% or more cover of Molina caerulea on less than 0.5 metres of peat (cf mire, E)
- Less than 25% dwarf shrub cover on peat less than 0.5 metres deep (cf heathland, D)
- 25% or more cover of Juncus acutiflorus, Juncus effusus, Juncus inflexus, Carex species or Filipendula Ulmaria
- Wet meadows and pastures where grasses are subordinate to forbs (rich in communities such as Caltha Palustris, Filipendula ulmaria, Valeriana species, Crepis paludosa Dachylorhizo species, Eupatorium cannabinum, Juncus species and Carex species.
Poor Semi-improved grassland (B6):
- Good semi-improved = reasonable diversity of herbaceous species which is acid calcareous or neutral in origin.
- Poor semi-improved grassland = restricted list of species with species poor neutral grassland
Tall herb and fern (C):
- Bracken (C1) dominated by Pteridium aquilinum or scattered
- Upland species-rich ledges (C2), species include Angelica sylvestris, Filipendula ulmaria, Solidago Virgaurea, Athyrium filix-femina, Trollius europaeus, Crepis paludosa.
- This habitat is usually too small to map and therefore target noted.
Other tall herb and fern (C3):
- Tall ruderal (c3.1), stands of tall perennial or biennial dicotyledons more than 25cm high of species such as Chamenon augustifolium, Urtica dioica, Reynoutria japonica
- Non-ruderal (c3.2), non-wooded stands of species such as Oreopleris limbosperma, Athyrium felix-femina, Dryopteris species or Luzula sylvatica.
Heathland (D):
- Vegetation dominated by ericoids or dwarf gorse species as well as heaths dominated by lichens and bryophytes, dwarf forbs, Carex bigelowi or Juncus trifidus.
- Generally well-drained acid soils.
- Heathland can occur on peat less than 0.5 metres thick (to distinguish from mire)
Dry dwarf shrub heath (D1):
- 25% or more cover of ericoids or small gorse species in relatively dry situations.
- Typical lowland dry dwarf shrub heath includes Calluna vulgaris, Vaccinium myrtillus, Erica cinerea, Ulex minor and Ulex gallo.
- Typical upland heaths include Empetrum nigrum, Empetrum hennaphroditum, Arctostaphylos uva-ursi and Vaccinum vitis-idaea.
- Acid heaths usually occur on deep podsols developed on base-deficient sands, gravels and clays.
- Basic heaths recognised by presence of herbs characteristic of chalk grassland and open habitats.
Wet dwarf scrub heath (D2):
- 25% or more cover of ericoids and/or small Ulex species and Molinia caerulea often abundant and normally contains some Sphagnum compactum or Sphagnum tenellum.
- Proportion of Sphagna increases and species composition changes in transitions of mires with Sphagnum papillosum and Sphagnum subnitens becoming more frequent.
- Signficant quantities of Erica tetralia is common in wet dwarf scrub heath and abundance of this and Molinia decreases in transition from wet to dry heath
Lichen/bryophyte heath (D3):
- Dominates heaths of mountain summits and lowland situations such as East Anglia Breckland
- Less than 30% vascular plant cover.
Montane heath/dwarf herb (D4):
- Diverse grouping of montane heath and snow-bed vegetation types.
- Includes heaths dominated by Carex bigelowi and Juncus trifidus, dwarf forb communities of Alchemilla alpina, Silene acaulis, Sibbalitia procumbens and Saxifraga species.
Dry heath/acid grassland mosaic (D5):
- Found on hill and moorland, relative proportions should be target noted
- Wet heath/acidic grassland mosaics (D6) similar to D5 should be target noted
Mire (E):
- Occurs typically on deep peat (over o.5 metres thick) with the water table at or just below the surface, but flushes and springs on shallow or incipient peats are also included.
- Bogs are ombotrophic mires (blanket bog and raised bog) and fed only by direct precipitation
- Minertrophic mires (valley, flood plain and basin mires) are fed by ground water or streams (fens).
These may occur within each other.
Bog (E1):
- Unmodified bog = blanket and raised bog.
- Consists of Sphagnum rich vegetation on peat more than 0.5 metres deep with water table at or just below the surface and no input of water from the surrounding land.
- Modified bog = little or no Sphagnum.
Blanket bog (E1.6.1):
- Forms blanket over concave and convex surfaces on level to moderately sloping ground in the uplands.
- Sphagnum rich vegetation on deep peat
- Widespread in north and west of Britain.
- Undisturbed blanket bog often shows a hummock-and-hollow structure, Sphagnum rich pools in hollow.
- Includes watershed mires, saddle mires, terrace bog and valleyside mire.
- Sphagnum rich including Sphagnum papillocurs and Sphagnum magellanicum
- Wide range of ericoids including Callura vulgaris, Erica tetralix, Vaccinium species and Epetrum species may be present mainly in th hummocks with Eriophorum vaginatum, Eriphorum augustifolia and Trichophorum cespitosurs. Calluna and/or Eriophorum vaginatum are often dominant over large areas.
Raised bog (E1.6.2):
- Found on estuarine flats, river flood-plains and other level areas with impeded drainage in the lowlands, also at moderate altitudes.
- Many overlie sites of glacial lake which become infilled.
- Peat is several metres deep that has accumulated to form a distinctly raised dome.
- Drainage tends to flow around the mire forming a lagg stream.
- Drier sloping margins of the mire may carry lagg woodland, which should be mapped as woodland.
Wet modified bog (E1.7):
- Little or no Sphagnum, often with bare peat and patches of Tricophorum cesputosum and/or Molina caerulea.
- Ericoids may be abundant, sparse or absent.
- Mainly found on drying and degraded blanket bogs and cut over-raised bogs.
- Peat depth of greater than 0.5 metres but may resemble wet heath.
Dry modified bog (E1.8):
- Dominated by Calluna vulgaris and other ericoids or by Eriophorum vaginatum (so other species may be sparse or absent) on peat more than 0.5 metres deep.
- Spahagnum is notably absent.
- Under dwarf shrubs may be a carpet of hypnoid mosses, with lichens such as Cladonia arbuscula.
- Essentially dry heath vegetation on deep peat is typical of areas of blanket or raised bog which has been subjected to heavy grazing, burning or draining.
Flush and spring (E2):
- Minetrophic mire, termed soligenous as associated with water movement.
- May or may not form peat, If they do the peat is often less than 0.5 metres deep.
- Flushes occur on gently sloping ground, They are linear or triangular and may include small watercourses.
- Flushes typically have an open or closed ground layer of Sphagnum and/or other bryophytes together with small sedges and Juncus species.
- Flush habitat = well developed bryophyte ground layer and lack of dominant grasses.
- Flushes may be acid, neutral or basic:-
Acid/neutral flush (E2.1):
- Typically support species-poor vegetation community of a Sphagnum carpet overlain by Carex or Juncus species.
- Characteristic moss species include Spagnum recurvum, Spagnum palustre and Spagnum auriculatum.
- Overlying vegetation may consist of Carex species (Carex echinata, Carex nigra or Carex cura) Carex rostrata, Juncus acutiflorus, Juncus effusus, Juncus squarrosus or Eriophorum augustifolium.
Basic Flush (E2.2):
- Typically supports a carpet of pleurocarpous brown mosses often without Sphagnum, overlain by a conspicious small sedge layer Carex flacca, Schoenus nigricans or a mixed herb layer.
- Characteristic Pleurocarpous mosses include Scorpidium, Camplium, Drepanocladus and Calliergon species.
- Characteristic herbs include Eleocharis quinqueflora, Eriphorum latifolium and Carex lepidocarpa.
Bryophyte-dominated spring (E2.3):
- Occurs in immediate vicinity of up-wellings and usually consists of spongy mats or small mounds dominated by bryophytes such as Cratoneuron or Philonotis species.
- Usually too small to map.
Fen (E3):
- 3 main types 1. Valley mire. 2. Basin mires. 3. Flood-plain mires.
- Minetrophic mires usually over peat more than 0.5 metres deep. The water table is at or just below the surface.
- Valley mire (E3.1) develops along the lower slopes and floor of a small valley and receives water from springs and seepages on the valley sides, feeding a central watercourse.
- Often dominated by acidophilous vegetation containing Sphagnum species, Carex species and ericoids.
- Floating mats of mosses and sedges may be present, also Schoenus nigricans and Juncus subriodulasus.
- Acid watercourses often contain Hypericum elodes and Potamogeton polygonifoluis.
Basin mire (E3.2):
- Develops in a waterlogged basin.
- Contains very little open water.
- Water table within basin is level but small flushes may occur around the edges with a limited through-flow of water.
- May be dominated by Sphagnum species, Carex rostrata and ericoids, or by tall swamp plants such as Phragmites australis, Schoenoplectus (Scirpus) lacustris, Typha species and in base-rich situations Cladium mariscus.
Flood-plain mire (E3.3):
- Forms on a river or stream flood-plain which is waterlogged and typically inundated periodically.
- Substrate may be peat, mineral or both.
Bare Peat (E4):
- If more than 0.25 hectare (approx 50m x 50m) it should be mapped.
- Commercial peat-workings are included in this category.
Swamp, marginal and inundation (F):
- Emergent or frequently inundated vegetation over peat or mineral soils.
- Depth of water or seasonal variation in water level and nature of substrate should be target noted.
- Water table is distinctly above the level of the substrate for most of the year.
Swamp (F1):
- Contains tall emergent vegetation.
- Generally in standing water for a large part of the year.
- Species composition varies according to trophic status of the water and substrate type etc.
- Mixed and single stands of Typha species, Phragmites australis, Phalaris arundinacea, Glyceria maxima, Carex paniculata, Carex acutiformis, Carex rostrata or other tall sedge.
- Narrower than 5 metres bordering watercourses then classified as marginal vegetation.
Marginal and inundation (F2):
- Marginal (F2.1) vegetation may have narrow strips of emergent vegetation occuring on the (often steep) margins of lowland watercourses where the water table is permanantly high.
- If tall vegetation wider than 5 metres classify as swamp.
- Marginal vegetation is typically open and contains plants such as Glyceria species, Rorripa species, Apiurn nodiflorum, Berula erecta, Oenanthe species, Galium palustre, Nasturtium officinale, Myosotis species, Veronica species, Alisma species, Sparganium erectum, Carex riparia, Juncus effusus and Juncus inflexus, also taller stands of plants such as phragmites australis, Typha species and Phalans arundinacea.
Inundation vegetation (F2.2):
- Subject to periodic inundation by open and innately unstable communities.
- May contain submerged free-floating or floating-leaved vegetation.
- Salinity of the water should be idicated.
- Aquatic vegetation should be target noted.
Standing water (G1):
- Lakes, resevoirs, pools, flooded gravel pits, ponds, waterfilled ditches, canals and brackish lagoons.
Running water (G2):
- Rivers and streams. Indicate direction of flow with an arrow.
Coastland (H):
- Coastal lagoons shoiuld be classified as standing water
Intertidal (H1):
- The codes for Zostera, green algal beds or brown algal beds should be superimposed over relevant Ordnance Survey symbols (mud/sand; shingle/cobbles; boulder/rocks).
Saltmarsh (H2):
- Saltmarsh/dune interface (H2.3)
- Vegetation peculiar to this area characterised by species such as Frankenia laevus or Suaeda fruticosa should be mapped whenever large enough and target noted.
Scattered plants (H2.4):
- Dominant species coded.
Dense/continuous (H2.6):
- Dominant species should be coded particularly noting Spartina where it is abundant.
- Inland saltmarsh included.
Shingle/gravel above high-tide mark-target note any vascular plants or lichen vegetation.
Boulders/rocks above high-tide mark-target note as for H3.
Strandline vegetation (H5):
- Open community on driftline.
- Cakile maritima, Honkenya peploids, Rumex crispus, Salsola kali, Atriplex species and Beta vulgaris ssp maritima.
- In contrast to fore dunes Elymus farctus is characterisitically sparse or absent.
- Target note and state whether substrate is shingle or rock.
Sand dune (H6):
- Dune slack (H6.4), valleys or hollows between dune ridges.
- Water table is close to surface for at least several months in the year leading to marshy vegetation.
- Salix repens, Hydrocotyle vulgaris, Dachtylorhiza species, Epipactis polstrus.
- Ammophila arenaria is usually absent.
Dune grassland (H6.5):
- Grassland on consolidated and flattened dunes.
- Generally little Ammophila arenaria will be present. Machair should be included here.
Dune heath (H6.7):
- Heathland occuring in consolidated and flattened dunes.
- Calluna is usually most dominant ericoid with Erica cinerea and Erica tetralix also common.
- Carex arenaria is often present and lichens, particularly Cladonia species are often abundant.
- Juniper may occasionally be present.
- For scattered heath use yellow crosses.
Dune scrub (H6.7):
- Scrub occuring on consolidated and flattened dunes.
- Hippophae rhamnoides is a characteristic species.
- Use green crosses for scattered scrub.
Open dune (H6.8):
- Category comprises the 3 early successional stages of dune formation, less stable and with lower vegetation cover than H6.4-H6.7.
Fore Dune- unstable, usually low ridges of sand on the foreshore often with a very open plant cover.
- Elymus farclus often dominant and maybe the only species present.
- Atriplex species, Honkenya peploids and Cakile maritima present and maybe Ammophila arenaria.
Yellow dune- partially stabilized ridges of sand between fore and grey dunes with a marked but incomplete plant cover.
-Nearly always dominated by Ammophila arenaria.
- Leymus (Elymus) arenarias and/or Elymus farctus may be common.
- Variety of small herbs may be present.
Grey dune- stable ridges of sand almost completely vegetated which is very variable in composition.
- Ammophila arenaria is usually present, mosses and lichens may be frequent.
- Grey dune can be distinguished from fixed dune by being markedly hilly or undulating and by the sand not being fully consolidated.
Maritime cliff and slope (H8):
- Maritime hard cliff (H8.1) is formed of rock (including chalk) with less than 10% vascular plant cover.
- Type of rock should be target noted.
- Vegetated cliffs mapped using vegetation codes and target noted.
Maritime soft cliff (H8.2):
- Formed of mud or clay.
- Less than 10% vascular plant cover.
- Substrate should be target noted.
Crevice and ledge vegatation (H8.3):
- Comprises vegetation covering at least 10% of the cliff surface, occuring in crevices or on/edge on steep cliffs.
- Record whether vegetation is influenced by the use of cliffs by birds (e.g. species such as Beta vulgaris).
- Vegetation occuring in splash zone should be target noted.
Coastal grassland (H8.4):
- Grassland which include maritime species.
- Occur on shallow slopes or level areas by the sea, often on cliff tops.
- Scilla vema, Plantago maritima and Armeria maritima present.
- Festuca rubra is often dominant.
- Maybe Hieracium pilosilla, Anthyllis vulneraria, Lotus comiculatus, Gallium verurn and Thymus praecox.
Coastal heathland (H8.5):
- All heathland which include maritime species and which occur on shallow slopes or even level areas by the sea should be included in this category.
- Scilla vema, Armeria maritima, Jasione montana, Plantago maritima and Plantago coronopus typically present.
- Calluna vulgaris often dominant.
- Erica cinerea and dwarf Ulex species frequently present.
- Coastal heathland often occurs just inland of coastal grassland and therefore frequently occurs at the top of cliffs.
Rock exposure and waste (I):
- Natural and artificial exposed rock surfaces are almost entirely lacking in vegetation.
- Various forms of excavations and waste tips.
- Significant communities of mosses, lichens, ferns growing on walls or rock ledges should be target noted.
Natural exposures (I1):
- Inland cliff (I1.1) - rock surfaces are over 2 metres high at sloping at more than 60 degrees.
- Vegetated cliffs with more than 10% vascular plant cover are not included but should be mapped with the correct vegetation code and target noted.
Scree (I1.2):
- An accumulation usually at foot of cliff of weathered rock fragments all sizes, mostly angular in shape.
- Includes large boulders (boulder scree) which should me mapped using enlarged red dots.
Limestone pavement (I1.3):
- Near horizontal surface usually of carboniferous limestone which is irregularly corrugated and furrowed by solution and often cut by deeper and more regular fissures (grikes) which correspond to naturally occuring joints within the rock.
Other exposure (I1.4):
- e.g. Exposed rock on mountain tops and in river beds.
Cave (I1.5):
- Any natural recess large enough to enter and with a complete ceiling.
Artificial exposures and waste tips (I2):
- Boundaries of quarries, spoil heaps, mines or refuse tips should be outlined in red.
- Covering vegetation, if abundant should be coded as appropriate e.g. grassland, scrub and if sparse then target note it.
Quarry (I2.1):
- Excavations such as gravel, sand or chalk pits and stone quarries.
- Mineral ore extracted should be target noted.
- If water-filled map as open water and target note previous use.
- Include spoil heaps.
Spoil (I2.2):
-Abandoned industrial areas and tips of waste material such as coal mine, spoil and slag.
- Note type of spoil.
Mine (I2.3):
- Mark on map and target note features of interest.
Refuse-tip (I2.4):
- Target note vegetation of interest.
- If too small to map then code dominant species.
Miscellaneous (J):
- Parks, gardens, golf courses and railway cuttings/embankments not listed as separate habitat types which will be clearly marked on Ordnance Survey maps.
- Superimpose colour code for appropriate habitat type e.g. grassland, woodland onto the Ordnance Survey map.
Cultivated/disturbed land (J1)
Arable (J1.1):
- Arable cropland , horticultural land, freshly ploughed land and recently reseeded grassland e.g. rye grass, rye clover leys often managed for silage.
Amenity grassland (J1.2):
- Intensively managed, regularly mown grasslands e.g. lawns, playing fields, golf course, fairways and many urban 'Savannah' parks.
- Sward composition depends on original seed mixture used and on the age of the community.
- Herbs such as Bellis Perennis, Plantago major and Taraxacum officinale may be present.
- If sward rich in herbs it may be classified as semi-improved acidic, neutral or calcareous grassland.
- Map as specific grassland type and target note its amenity use.
Ephemeral/short perennial (J1.3):
- Short, patchy plant associations typical of derelict urban sites, quarries and railway ballast.
- Land must be freely draining and usually has shallow stony soil.
- Lacks a clear dominant species.
- Contains mixture of low-growing plants often less than 25cm high e.g. Plantago major, Rananculus repens, Trifolium repens, Medicago lupilina, Tussilago farfara, Leucanthemum vulgare and Senecio species.
- Taller species include Sisymbrium or Melilotus species.
Introduced shrub (J1.4):
- Not locally native shrub species.
- Planted or self-grown..
- Buxus species, Corn us, Laurus, Ligustrum, Rhododendron and Symphoricarpus.
- If forming an understorey in woodland, map as woodland and target note.
- If on sand dunes classify as dune scrub.
Boundaries (J2):
- Species rich hedges should be differentiated from species-poor ones by the use of a zig-zag symbol.
Intact hedges (J2.1):
- More or less stock-proof.
Defunct hedge (J2.2):
- Has gaps and are not stock-proof.
Hedgerow with trees (J2.3):
- Hatching to indicate density of trees.
- Windbreak hedging will be callsified under A3.
Species-rich hedges (J2.4):
- Diversity of native woody species and a good hedgerow bottom flora.
Wall (J2.5):
- Significant communities of mosses, lichens or ferns growing on walls may be target noted particularly in built-up araes.
Ditch (J2.6):
- Only ditches which appear to be dry for most of the year should be included in this category.
- Wet ditches are mapped as standing water (G1) or possibly swamp (F1).
Boundary removed (J2.7):
- Use spaced crosses on the appropriate Ordnance Survey symbol.
Earth bank (J2.8):
- Ditch/bank systems found on ancient woodland sites may be included here as should sea walls constructed of natural materials.
Built-up areas (J3):
-Caravan site: Hatching may be used as an overlay on the appropriate semi-natural habitat colour, for instance where the site is on coastal grassland or in woodland.
Sea wall (J3.5):
- Constructed of artificial materials (e.g. concrete), others should be mapped on earth banks (J2.8).
Buildings (J3.6):
- Map unmarked buildings or built-up areas and colour those already shown on the Ordnance Survey maps.
- Agricultural, industrial and domestic buildings should be coloured in solid black.
Bare Ground (J4):
- Target note extensive or otherwise important areas of bare ground.
Other habitat (J5):
- Draw a black line around any habitat not encompassed by the classification and describe in target note.
To be continued....
