Identification

Title

Habitat Networks (England)

Alternative title(s)

Abstract

This is a spatial dataset that describes the geographic extent and location of Habitat Networks for 18 priority habitats based primarily, but not exclusively, on the priority habitat inventory with additional data added in relation to habitat restoration-creation, restorable habitat, plus fragmentation action, and network enhancement and expansion zones. The maps are created following a standardised process that incorporates a range of data layers and identifies specific locations for a range of actions to help improve the ecological resilience for each of the habitats/habitat networks. This is the combined habitat network map. This updated dataset replaces the two previous published layers 'Habitat Networks (Combined Habitats) (England)' and 'Habitat Networks (Combined Habitats) (England) Priority Restoration'. The Habitat Networks (England) comprise a series of 23 individual habitat network maps for England plus a single 'Combined Habitat Networks Map' and 3 'Grouped Habitat Networks Map'. The habitat network maps seek to apply the best evidence and principles and to use the best available nationally consistent spatial data. The habitat network maps are developed around 4 distinct habitat components sets and include 4 distinct network zones where action may be undertaken to build greater ecological resilience. The different elements of the maps are described below: Habitat Components: - The location of existing patches of a specific habitat for which the network is developed. This is termed the 'Primary habitat' e.g. lowland heathland. The main baseline data used for this is the Priority Habitat Inventories (PHI). - The location of additional habitat that naturally form mosaics with the primary habitat e.g. habitats that are most likely to form ecological mosaics possibly used by species associated with the primary habitat. This is termed the 'Associated habitat'. The main baseline data used for this is the Priority Habitat Inventories (PHI). - The locations where habitat creation or restoration is known to occur, this is primarily sites under relevant agri-environment options. This is termed the 'Habitat creation'. - Sites where data suggests small fragments of the primary habitat or degraded habitat exists and where restoration may be possible, this is primarily developed from information held within the current PHI. This is termed the 'Restorable habitat'. Network Zones: - Land within close proximity to the existing habitat components that are more likely to be suitable for habitat re-creation for the particular habitat. These areas are primarily based on soils but in many cases has been refined by also using other data such as hydrology, altitude and proximity to the coast. This is termed the 'Network Enhancement Zone 1'. - Land within close proximity to the existing habitat components that are unlikely to be suitable for habitat re-creation but where other types of habitat may be created or land management may be enhanced including delivery of suitable Green Infrastructure. This is termed the 'Network Enhancement Zone 2'. - Land immediately adjoining existing habitat patches that are small or have excessive edge to area ratio where habitat creation is likely to help reduce the effects of habitat fragmentation. This is termed the 'Fragmentation Action Zone'. - Land within relatively close proximity to the Network Enhancement Zones 1 & 2 that are more likely to be suitable for habitat creation for the particular habitat and identifying possible locations for connecting and linking up networks across a landscape. This is termed the 'Network Expansion Zone' Note: For some habitat networks not all of the habitat components or all the action zones are identified either because the data does not exist or the habitat does not lend itself to identifying particular types of action. Further details are outlined in the Habitat Network Mapping Guidance document. The Network boundary is drawn around the 4 habitat components using a variable buffering process with a generalised distance of 500m although 1km was used for Blanket Bog. As the boundary for each habitat network is tightly drawn around the existing patches of habitat this means that at a national scale the habitat network is composed of a series of smaller 'networks' that encapsulates one or more clusters of existing habitat patches. These may be considered as 'network segments'. The Network Expansion Zone has been drawn around these segments to identify areas where additional action may be undertaken to build greater ecological resilience across the wider landscape. Attribution statement: © Natural England copyright. Contains Ordnance Survey data © Crown copyright and database right [year].

Resource type

dataset

Resource locator

https://environment.data.gov.uk/api/file/download?fileDataSetId=a151421a-1a41-44ad-a20a-ff4bcf265cad&fileName=Data_Gov_UK_Metadata_National_Habitat_Networks_England.url

protocol: http

name: Data_Gov_UK_Metadata_National_Habitat_Networks_England.url

description: Data_Gov_UK_Metadata_National_Habitat_Networks_England.url download on Defra Data Services Platform

https://environment.data.gov.uk/api/file/download?fileDataSetId=a151421a-1a41-44ad-a20a-ff4bcf265cad&fileName=HabitatNetworksCombinedHabitatsEngland-FGDB.zip

protocol: http

name: HabitatNetworksCombinedHabitatsEngland-FGDB.zip

description: HabitatNetworksCombinedHabitatsEngland-FGDB.zip download on Defra Data Services Platform

https://environment.data.gov.uk/api/file/download?fileDataSetId=a151421a-1a41-44ad-a20a-ff4bcf265cad&fileName=HabitatNetworksCombinedHabitatsEngland-GeoJSON.zip

protocol: http

name: HabitatNetworksCombinedHabitatsEngland-GeoJSON.zip

description: HabitatNetworksCombinedHabitatsEngland-GeoJSON.zip download on Defra Data Services Platform

https://environment.data.gov.uk/api/file/download?fileDataSetId=a151421a-1a41-44ad-a20a-ff4bcf265cad&fileName=HabitatNetworksCombinedHabitatsEngland-GML.zip

protocol: http

name: HabitatNetworksCombinedHabitatsEngland-GML.zip

description: HabitatNetworksCombinedHabitatsEngland-GML.zip download on Defra Data Services Platform

https://environment.data.gov.uk/api/file/download?fileDataSetId=a151421a-1a41-44ad-a20a-ff4bcf265cad&fileName=HabitatNetworksCombinedHabitatsEngland-KML.zip

protocol: http

name: HabitatNetworksCombinedHabitatsEngland-KML.zip

description: HabitatNetworksCombinedHabitatsEngland-KML.zip download on Defra Data Services Platform

https://environment.data.gov.uk/api/file/download?fileDataSetId=a151421a-1a41-44ad-a20a-ff4bcf265cad&fileName=HabitatNetworksCombinedHabitatsEngland-MID_MIF.zip

protocol: http

name: HabitatNetworksCombinedHabitatsEngland-MID_MIF.zip

description: HabitatNetworksCombinedHabitatsEngland-MID_MIF.zip download on Defra Data Services Platform

https://environment.data.gov.uk/api/file/download?fileDataSetId=a151421a-1a41-44ad-a20a-ff4bcf265cad&fileName=HabitatNetworksCombinedHabitatsEngland-SHP.zip

protocol: http

name: HabitatNetworksCombinedHabitatsEngland-SHP.zip

description: HabitatNetworksCombinedHabitatsEngland-SHP.zip download on Defra Data Services Platform

https://environment.data.gov.uk/api/file/download?fileDataSetId=a151421a-1a41-44ad-a20a-ff4bcf265cad&fileName=HabitatNetworksCombinedHabitatsEngland-TAB.zip

protocol: http

name: HabitatNetworksCombinedHabitatsEngland-TAB.zip

description: HabitatNetworksCombinedHabitatsEngland-TAB.zip download on Defra Data Services Platform

https://environment.data.gov.uk/api/file/download?fileDataSetId=a151421a-1a41-44ad-a20a-ff4bcf265cad&fileName=Habitat_Networks_Combined_England.lyr

protocol: http

name: Habitat_Networks_Combined_England.lyr

description: Habitat_Networks_Combined_England.lyr download on Defra Data Services Platform

https://environment.data.gov.uk/api/file/download?fileDataSetId=a151421a-1a41-44ad-a20a-ff4bcf265cad&fileName=Open_Government_Licence.url

protocol: http

name: Open_Government_Licence.url

description: Open_Government_Licence.url download on Defra Data Services Platform

https://naturalengland-defra.opendata.arcgis.com/datasets/habitat-networks-combined-habitats-england

protocol: http

name: ArcGIS Open Dataset record page

description: ArcGIS Open Dataset record page

https://environment.data.gov.uk/explore/5e614b67-ccd0-4673-8ad8-adddf538125e?download=true

protocol: http

name: Defra Data Services Platform DOWNLOAD

description: Download data by area of interest

https://environment.data.gov.uk/spatialdata/habitat-networks-combined-habitats-england/wfs

protocol: http

name: Defra Data Services Platform WFS

description: Habitat Networks (Combined Habitats) (England) WFS

https://environment.data.gov.uk/spatialdata/habitat-networks-combined-habitats-england/wms

protocol: http

name: Defra Data Services Platform WMS

description: Habitat Networks (Combined Habitats) (England) WMS

https://s3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/data.defra.gov.uk/Natural_England/Habitat_Species/Habitats/Habitat_Network_England_NE/Habitat_Networks_England_Version_2_Guidance.pdf

protocol: http

name: Guidance document DOWNLOAD

description: Guidance document DOWNLOAD

https://environment.data.gov.uk/arcgis/rest/services/NE/HabitatNetworksCombinedHabitatsEngland/FeatureServer

protocol: http

name: Habitat_Networks_(England)_ESRI_REST_Feature_Server_Endpoint

description: Habitat Networks (England) ESRI REST Feature Server Endpoint

Unique resource identifier

code

f7932e02-0396-41dc-8106-f7dcd5e539d3

codeSpace

Dataset language

eng

Spatial reference system

code identifying the spatial reference system

http://www.opengis.net/def/crs/EPSG/0/27700

Classification of spatial data and services

Topic category

environment

Keywords

Keyword set

keyword value

environment

Keyword set

keyword value

Habitats and biotopes

originating controlled vocabulary

title

GEMET - INSPIRE themes, version 1.0

reference date

date type

publication

effective date

2008-06-01

Geographic location

West bounding longitude

-7.867986

East bounding longitude

3.294123

North bounding latitude

56.164932

South bounding latitude

49.547793

Temporal reference

Temporal extent

Begin position

2018-06-01

End position

2021-03-31

Dataset reference date

date type

creation

effective date

2018-06-30

date type

revision

effective date

2019-12-03

Frequency of update

asNeeded

Quality and validity

Lineage

Created using the following data sets: • Priority Habitat Inventory (PHI v2_2) • Alkaline Fen and Transition Mire and Quaking Bog Annex 1 habitats in England • Ancient Woodland Inventory • Priority Rivers Habitat Map • CEH UK Lakes Portal • Draft Wood Pasture & Parkland • Woodland Trust Ancient Tree Inventory • PTES Traditional Orchards HAP data layer • NSRI Soilscapes data (see below for more information on soil types) • A digital terrain model • Urban Settlements • EA Flood Risk Zone 3 tidal • NE Green Infrastructure delivery 2016 The data layers listed above were geo-processed using FME to prepare a series of individual habitat network maps that have also been combined to produce 3 grouped habitat network maps and a combined habitat networks map. More information on which data sets and method used is outlined within the 'User Guidance Document' The independent review of England’s wildlife sites and ecological network, chaired by Professor Sir John Lawton, concluded that England’s collection of wildlife areas (both legally protected areas and others) does not currently represent a coherent and resilient ecological network capable of responding to the challenges of climate change and other pressures (Biodiversity 2020, Defra). In response to this challenge, Defra’s 25 year environment plan commits to the creation of a Nature Recovery Network providing 500,000 hectares of additional wildlife habitat, more effectively linking existing protected sites and landscapes, as well as urban green and blue infrastructure. Such a network will deliver on the recommendations from Professor Sir John Lawton: recovering wildlife will require more habitat; in better condition; in bigger patches that are more closely connected (A Green Future, Defra 2018). The National Habitat Networks map the existing distribution of 19 BAP priority habitats and, drawing on other relevant environmental data, it applies criteria based on Lawton’s recommendations to identify areas where conservation actions such as habitat restoration, creation and management will improve connectivity and enhance the functioning and resilience of the network. This spatial data is designed to be used in combination with other tools identified in Natural England’s Ecological Network Handbook to target actions to help deliver a coherent and resilient national ecological network.

Conformity

Data format

name of format

Open format | Shapefile (SHP)

version of format

10.2.2

Constraints related to access and use

Constraint set

Use constraints

Open Government Licence

Constraint set

Limitations on public access

There are no public access constraints to this data. Use of this data is subject to the licence identified.

Constraint set

Use constraints

Constraint set

Limitations on public access

There are no public access constraints to this data. Use of this data is subject to the licence identified.

Responsible organisations

Responsible party

organisation name

Natural England

email address

data.services@naturalengland.org.uk

web address

https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/natural-england

description: Natural England Website

responsible party role

pointOfContact

Metadata on metadata

Metadata point of contact

organisation name

Natural England

email address

data.services@naturalengland.org.uk

responsible party role

pointOfContact

Metadata date

2024-05-08

Metadata language

eng