Assessment of Heathland and Associated Habitats on the Coal Spoils of South Wales
The coal extraction industry has had a massive impact on the natural environment at a landscape level, the most obvious legacy of the operations being the extensive coal spoil tips apparent across the region. In recent years millions of pounds have been spent on the stabilisation and eventual reclamation of these spoil areas and their redevelopment for housing, new industry or local open spaces. In the past the potential ecological value of the tips has generally been overlooked or understated. However, old coal spoil sites are now recognised as an important habitat for a range of species and the few remaining sites in the Valleys also have cultural and community value, however general awareness of the value of these sites is low. This has resulted in a loss of site value in term of heritage, ecology, landscape and amenity and there was a need to put individual sites into a context. The former Countryside Council for Wales (CCW), which is now part of Natural Resources Wales (NRW), conducted an integrated strategic assessment of the recreational use and conservation value of heathland and associated habitats on the coal spoils of South Wales. This dataset compiles of the results of an National Vegetation Classification (NVC) survey of coal spoil habitats on 15 sites in the South Wales valleys. It contains quadrat and species data for heath, grassland, mire and associated habitats and mapped habitat polygons. The purpose of this data capture was to conduct a strategic assessment of the conservation value of coal spoil in the South Wales valleys to be used to identify important sites which require protection through the planning process and as possible use for designation of sites. It has also been used to aid in identifying action by Local Biodiversity Action Plans (LBAPs). The area covered includes South Wales valley; Torfaen, Rhondda Cynon Taf, Caerphilly and Merthyr County Borough Council (CBCs).
- Identification
- Extent
- Distribution
- Quality
- Keywords
- Spatial Reference System
- Content
- Constraints
- Maintenance
- Metadata
Identification
- Identifier
- NRW_DS109899
- Alternative Title
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- Asesu Gweundiroedd a Chynefinoedd Cysylltiedig ar Domenni Glo De Cymru
- Coal Spoil Habitats Assessment
- Metadata Language
- English
- Lineage
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The method of data capture used was quadrat survey using standard NVC methodology on the areas of coal waste selected for survey. Standard former Countryside Council for Wales (CCW) GIS mapping of habitats. The 15 sites were chosen from the 25 identified during the 2005 Assessment of the recreational use and conservation value of heathland and associated habitats on the coal spoils of South Wales survey. There is some disagreement regarding NVC communities/species identification and some poor mapping and digitisation in this dataset.
- Dataset Reference Date (Publication)
- 2007-03-01
Temporal Extent
- Begin date
- 2006-07-01
- End date
- 2007-03-01
- Topic category
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- Environment
- Biota
Extent
Extent
- Geographic Extent
- Wales (WLS)
))
Vertical Extent
Vertical Extent
- Minimum value (metres)
- 140
- Maximum value (metres)
- 400
- Vertical CRS
Distribution
- Format Type and Description
-
-
Documents
Documents
()
- Specification
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[A] Report available as paper hardcopy or digital version (Word and PDF files) [B] GIS products in the form of MapInfo tables- vegetation polygons, quadrat points, target notes and photographic points. [C] Excel spreadsheets containing raw quadrat data [E] Digital photos
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Documents
Documents
()
Quality
Data quality
- Quality Scope
- Dataset
- Lineage
-
The method of data capture used was quadrat survey using standard NVC methodology on the areas of coal waste selected for survey. Standard former Countryside Council for Wales (CCW) GIS mapping of habitats. The 15 sites were chosen from the 25 identified during the 2005 Assessment of the recreational use and conservation value of heathland and associated habitats on the coal spoils of South Wales survey. There is some disagreement regarding NVC communities/species identification and some poor mapping and digitisation in this dataset.
Keywords
Keywords
- Type
- Theme
Citation
- Date (Publication)
- 2008-06-01
Keywords
- NRW Thesaurus
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- heathland (heaths)
- lichen-heath
- lichens
- coal
- coal spoils
- cladonia
- heather
- calluna vulgaris
- Torfaen
- Rhondda Cynon Taff (Rhondda Cynon Taff County Borough Council)
- Caerphilly
- Merthyr Tydfil
- survey methods (survey techniques) (survey) (surveying)
- National Vegetation Classification (NVC)
- conservation assessment
- the Valleys, South Wales
- mines (mining)
- Type
- Theme
Citation
- Date (Publication)
- 2023-12-31
Spatial Reference System
Content
Content Information
NRW Profile
Custom Elements
- NRW Related Title
-
A strategic conservation assessment of heathland and associated habitats on the coal spoils of south Wales
Constraints
Constraints
Limitations on Public Access and Use
- Restriction type
- Other restrictions
Access Constraints Directive
- Limitations
- no limitations
Access Constraints Text
- Other constraints
-
The following data is considered OS derived data and is therefore jointly owned by NRW and the Ordnance Survey. There are no access restrictions on this data. However there are third party use restrictions.
Use Constraints
- Use constraints type
- Other restrictions
- Other constraints
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© CNC/NRW and © Crown copyright. All rights reserved. Natural Resources Wales, AC0000849444 Data may be re-used under provision and in line with the terms of a NRW licence. Those seeking commercial re-use require a commercial licence available from the OS.
Metadata
Metadata
- File Identifier
- 4f4c4942-4343-5764-6473-313039383939 XML
- Metadata Language
- English
- Parent Identifier
-
Coal Spoil Conservation Project
NRW_DS109916
- Resource type
- Dataset
- Metadata Date
- 2024-05-31T09:37:47.629Z
- Metadata Standard Name
- NRW
- Metadata Standard Version
-
1.0