Phase 2 Lowland Peatland Survey of Wales
This dataset is part of the Phase 2 Habitats surveys conducted across Wales. It consists of a detailed survey of plant communities in lowland peatland vegetation. The survey work was split into two time periods, with the first Phase 2 lowland peatland surveys being conducted between 1977 and 1982. There was then a break between this and the second tranche of surveys which have occurred from 2004 onwards. These more modern surveys were conducted on sites already covered on the 1997-1982 surveys and on newer identified sites. The surveys were conducted at Phase 2 (plant community) level of herbaceous mire habitats predominantly within the lowland environment of Wales.
Key project outputs include site-based assessments of community type, distribution and ecology and evaluative accounts of vegetation and its condition.
Strategic outputs include Area of Search/regional/all Wales synthesis and analysis of data to inform site selection, conservation and restoration.
This part of the Phase 2 survey just includes species datasets collected by Countryside Council for Wales and Natural Resources Wales in-house expert Phase 2 survey team. Peer-based quality assurance is carried out within the team and by CCW's Peatland Specialist. Regular meetings are held to ensure consistent community and species determination and survey protocol application.
The primary objective of the survey is to characterise and evaluate the vegetation cover of lowland peatlands in Wales to ensure the identification, protection and management of important peatland sites. All Wales coverage although sites vary in size and complexity.
The survey programme is almost wholly confined to lowland mires, i.e. those below the upper functional limit of agricultural enclosure. A few mires above this limit may be considered where they display essentially lowland characteristics or where survey would provide additional critical information for rare communities. The survey encompasses all lowland Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) supporting at least one independently qualifying peatland feature. The only exceptions to this are (i) the largest of the raised mires (namely Cors Fochno, Cors Caron, and Fenns, Whixall, Bettisfield, Wem and Cadney Mosses), and (ii) any sites for which recent reliable information collected in a manner broadly comparable to that of the current survey is already available. Non-statutory sites are included if they have peatland features considered likely to be of individually qualifying status or if they have a notable mire element. A 0.5 ha threshold for individual or groups of communities has been used to help prioritise sites for survey.
- Identification
- Extent
- Distribution
- Quality
- Keywords
- Spatial Reference System
- Content
- Constraints
- Maintenance
- Metadata
Identification
- Identifier
- NRW_DS98737
- Alternative Title
-
- PH2 Lowland peatland peat depth.lyr
- PH2_Lowland_Peatland_veg.LYR
- PH2_Lowland_Peatland_sites.LYR
- PH2_Lowland_Peatland_Site_Condition.LYR
- PH2_Lowland_Peatland_refused.LYR
- PH2_Lowland_Peatland_quadrats.LYR
- PH2_Lowland_Peatland_photos.LYR
- PH2_Lowland_Peatland_notes_text.LYR
- PH2_Lowland_Peatland_notes_polygon.LYR
- PH2_Lowland_Peatland_notes_point.LYR
- PH2_Lowland_Peatland_notes_line.LYR
- PH2_Lowland_Peatland_mospolys.LYR
- PH2_Lowland_Peatland_features.LYR
- PH2_Lowland_Peatland_deep_peat.LYR
- PH2_Lowland_Peatland_Candidate_Sites.LYR
- LPSW West Gwynedd CCW0007100000004
- LPSW West Glamorgan and Llanelli CCW0007100000003
- LPSW Radnorshire CCW0007100000002
- LPSW Preseli and South Pembrokeshire CCW0007100000012
- LPSW Montgomeryshire CCW0007100000011
- LPSW Mid and South Glamorgan CCW0007100000001
- LPSW Gwent CCW0007100000010
- LPSW East Gwynedd CCW0007100000009
- LPSW Clwyd CCW0007100000008
- LPSW Ceredigion CCW0007100000007
- LPSW Carmarthen and Dinefwr CCW0007100000006
- LPSW Brecknock CCW0007100000005
- Metadata Language
- English
- Lineage
-
This dataset contains spatial sites and species data, non-spatial species data and images in JEPG and slide format. Phase 2 vegetation mapping and collection of quadrat data on plant community composition. Additional information is collected on notable species, peat depth, environmental factors, condition, management requirements and conservation evaluation. See Lowland Peatland Survey of Wales Survey Manual Version 2, S.D.S. Bosanquet et al., 2023 (In Prep.) for more information.
Written site accounts are available for each surveyed site. These greatly assist in interpreting the raw data in each case. Characterise and evaluate the vegetation cover of lowland peatlands in Wales based upon a programme of plant (sub-) community level sampling and mapping. All Wales, underpinned by criteria to aid site selection.
The current survey programme is the latest in a series of Phase 2 level surveys of major habitat groups in the Welsh lowlands. These include the recently completed Lowland Grassland Survey, which was undertaken in-house, and commissioned surveys covering lowland heathlands, woodlands, sand dunes and saltmarsh. The current peatland survey programme follows on an earlier pre-NVC assessment conducted between 1977 and 1982 (the Welsh Lowland Peatland Survey) which is dated and inadequate for modern conservation practice. This is the concluding part of a strategic series of Phase 2 level survey programmes across Wales.
Entire dataset has been extensively validated and verified by NRW vegetation survey specialists. Habitat composition may change over time due to successional trends, land management or even planned developments. A record of a vegetation type or species in the digital data is therefore no guarantee that it is still extant on the ground. Bosanquet, S.D.S., Jones P.S., Reed D. K., Birch K.S. & Turner A.J. 2022.. NRW Evidence Report No: [XX], [XX]pp, Natural Resources Wales, Bangor In Prep.
- Additional Information
-
A subset of the non-spatial species data is held in Recorder 6 which dates between 2004 and 2011, and is available to download via the NBN Atlas (see Resource Locator).
- Dataset Reference Date (Publication)
- 2024-06-19
Temporal Extent
- Begin date
- 2004-06-01
- End date
- 2022-10-26
- Topic category
-
- Biota
- Environment
- Boundaries
Extent
Extent
- Geographic Extent
- Wales (WLS)
))
Vertical Extent
Vertical Extent
- Minimum value (metres)
- 2
- Maximum value (metres)
- 400
- Vertical CRS
Distribution
Distribution
- Format Type and Description
-
-
Database
(
)
- Specification
-
[A] Site descriptions and Site Reports are held as Microsoft Word/Excel Format [B] Raw data workbook in Excel format. [C] Phase II habitat map - Paper map (field map over aerial photograph) and digital point data (MapInfo table) [D] ArcGIS ESRI Feature Class of Phase 2 - NVC communities (digital polygons), target notes (digital points), quadrat positions (digital points) - Available on ArcGIS/MyMap?Lle/NRW website as 'Open Datasets' [E] A full set of images produced in JPEG format [F] Record of landowner name and addresses - Available on ISIS Contacts Database {NB mainly for Protected Sites.] [G] Biological Data held in Recorder 6 for 2004-2011 data (this is also available to download via the NBN Gateway - see Resource Locator) [N.B. only a partial dataset, as ran out of money qand staff resources to add new data, which needs to be mobilised at soem future data in whatever format/method NRW now uses.]
-
Database
(
)
- Resource Locator
- Web Mapping Service ( WWW:LINK-1.0-http--link )
- Resource Locator
- View and Download Habitat Data ( WWW:LINK-1.0-http--link )
Quality
Data quality
- Quality Scope
- Dataset
- Lineage
-
This dataset contains spatial sites and species data, non-spatial species data and images in JEPG and slide format. Phase 2 vegetation mapping and collection of quadrat data on plant community composition. Additional information is collected on notable species, peat depth, environmental factors, condition, management requirements and conservation evaluation. See Lowland Peatland Survey of Wales Survey Manual Version 2, S.D.S. Bosanquet et al., 2023 (In Prep.) for more information.
Written site accounts are available for each surveyed site. These greatly assist in interpreting the raw data in each case. Characterise and evaluate the vegetation cover of lowland peatlands in Wales based upon a programme of plant (sub-) community level sampling and mapping. All Wales, underpinned by criteria to aid site selection.
The current survey programme is the latest in a series of Phase 2 level surveys of major habitat groups in the Welsh lowlands. These include the recently completed Lowland Grassland Survey, which was undertaken in-house, and commissioned surveys covering lowland heathlands, woodlands, sand dunes and saltmarsh. The current peatland survey programme follows on an earlier pre-NVC assessment conducted between 1977 and 1982 (the Welsh Lowland Peatland Survey) which is dated and inadequate for modern conservation practice. This is the concluding part of a strategic series of Phase 2 level survey programmes across Wales.
Entire dataset has been extensively validated and verified by NRW vegetation survey specialists. Habitat composition may change over time due to successional trends, land management or even planned developments. A record of a vegetation type or species in the digital data is therefore no guarantee that it is still extant on the ground. Bosanquet, S.D.S., Jones P.S., Reed D. K., Birch K.S. & Turner A.J. 2022.. NRW Evidence Report No: [XX], [XX]pp, Natural Resources Wales, Bangor In Prep.
Keywords
Keywords
- Type
- Theme
Citation
- Date (Publication)
- 2008-06-01
Keywords
-
NRW Thesaurus
-
- mires
- lowland peatland survey
- vegetation classification
- lowlands
- site condition monitoring
- fens
- swamps
- lowland peatlands
- lowland peatlands
- rare species
- site assessment
- raised bogs
- management agreements
- Peatland Survey
- habitat classification
- habitat surveys (habitat monitoring)
- rare plant monitoring
- vegetation surveys (vegetation monitoring)(see also biologicalsurveys)
- Fenland
- rare plants (scarce plants)
- peatland ecology
- Type
- Theme
Citation
- Date (Publication)
- 2024-06-19
Spatial Reference System
Content
Content Information
NRW Profile
Custom Elements
- NRW Related Title
-
Lowland peatland survey of Wales : survey manual
Constraints
Constraints
Limitations on Public Access and Use
- Restriction type
- Other restrictions
Access Constraints Directive
- Limitations
- no limitations
Access Constraints Text
- Other constraints
-
Part of this dataset (habitat data) has no access restrictions and NRW may release, publish or disseminate it freely. However part of this dataset is sensitive and restricted as it contains data exempt from general release. The sensitive data is as follows; 1) Plant species listed on the NRW Sensitive Species List. This may only be released at a scale 10km sq. 2) Personal data e.g. names and addresses, other personal details. This information will not be released without permission of those involved 3) Sensitive site data, e.g. information about a site prior to designation. 4) Data with a landowner interest e.g. if a landowner specifically objects to information about their property being released Sensitive data must be kept confidential; general release is not permitted due to risk of harm to the environment or third parties.
Use Constraints
- Use constraints type
- Other restrictions
- Other constraints
-
© CNC/NRW NRW does NOT grant permission to third parties to re-use or disseminate the full dataset. A redacted version of the data may be re-used under the terms of the Open Government Licence providing it is done so, acknowledging both the source and NRW's copyright. It is the recipient's responsibility to ensure the data is fit for the intended purpose.
Attribution Statement
- Other constraints
-
Contains Natural Resources Wales information © Natural Resources Wales and Database Right. All rights Reserved. Contains Ordnance Survey Data. Ordnance Survey Licence number AC0000849444. Crown Copyright and Database Right.
Licence
- Other constraints
- Open Government Licence
Metadata
Metadata
- File Identifier
- 4f4c4942-4343-5764-6473-3938373337 XML
- Metadata Language
- English
- Resource type
- Dataset
- Metadata Date
- 2024-09-18T09:59:55.167Z
- Metadata Standard Name
- NRW
- Metadata Standard Version
-
1.0