1. Emerald Siggery Plymouth Coastal Observatory
Habitat Mapping
Emerald Siggery
Plymouth Coastal Observatory

2. Habitat Mapping Part 1: Portland Bill to Avonmouth
Part 2: Severn Estuary
As most of you will know, one of the main components of the coastal monitoring programme is the habitat mapping. This has been in progress since the beginning of the first phase of the programme and is now complete and I'm just going to take a few minutes to go over the data with you. The habitat mapping is split into two parts the first of which covers the area from Portland Bill to Avonmouth and the Second covers the remainder of the programme’s remit in the Severn Estuary. Both sections were mapped by different consultants and therefore are accompanied by different survey reports, although the methodology used was the same.

3. Aerial Photography Interpretation
The mapping was undertaken using aerial photography interpretation, supplemented by information from other sources and ground truthing field surveys. As you will know that due to weather restrictions over the first few aerial photography flying seasons the baseline aerial photography dataset took much longer than anticipated to collect leading to subsequent delays in the habitat mapping. The mapping is based therefore on photography taken between 2006 and All the photography was collected during the summer months when vegetation cover is at its optimum and at low tide on a spring tide to expose as much of the intertidal area as possible.

4. OS MasterMap Framework
Due to the complexities and time consuming nature of mapping such a large area from scratch an OS Mastermap framework was used. This was then populated and modified where necessary to reflect the results of the API. This simplified the process however it does pose one limitation in that a mastermap license is needed if you wish to obtain a copy of the shapefiles.

5. IHS Classification System
Level 1
WB0 Broadleaved, Mixed and Yew Woodland
Level 2
WB2
Scrub Woodland
Level 3
WB21
Scrub Woodland on Dunes
WB22
Scrub Woodland on Calcareous Soils
WB23
Scrub Woodland on Heathland
WB3
Broadleaved Woodland
The habitat mapping is based on the integrated habitat survey classification originally devised by the Somerset environmental records centre and which has been broadened to include all the coastal habitats in the south west. It is a hierachical classification system based on different levels. Where possible habitats have been mapped to level 5.

6. Accessing the Data strategic.monitoring@environment-agency.gov.uk
Now that it is complete the data is freely available. As the data was mapped using the OS mastermap framework an OS mastermap license is required before access to the shapefiles can be granted. If you do however have a mastermap licence shapefiles for your region can be requested from

7. PDF Maps www.channelcoast.org/habitats
If you do not have a mastermap licence or are only after a snapshot of the habitats in a specific area then the data is freely available from the website in PDF map form. The data can be accessed via or via a link on the front page of the map viewer and data catalogue. If is useful to note at this point that users who use the most recent version of microsoft internet explorer as their internet browser will need to use compatibility mode to view the habitat mapping pages. The habitat page brings up a map which is divided into sections based on OS tiles. Clicking on a specific tile will bring up a menu which will allow you to access the map for that tile along with the complete habitat legend, the survey report and a spreadsheet. Here we have an example of the mapping for the OS tile which includes Plymouth Sound.

8. Spreadsheet and Report
The spreadsheet which accompanies the data is not divided by tile. There is one spreadsheet for the first part of the mapping, from Portland Bill to Avonmouth and there is a second for the second part of the mapping, in the Severn estuary. The relevant spreadsheet will be offered depending on which tile was selected. The spreadsheets are divided by local authority area and show the quantity of each habitat found within the area mapped for each region. There is a different page for each habitat level. I must stress that the quantity of each habitat is for the area mapped only, i.e. the coastal strip, and is not an indication of the overall quantity of the habitat within the local authority area. The spreadsheets also not which habitats are BAP and which are Annex 1 habitats making then a useful tool.
All tiles are linked to the relevant survey report. There contain much more in depth information on the habitat mapping and the methodology used to complete it, along with some analysis of the findings. If you are downloading any of the mapping then it is very worth downloading the relevant report and having a look as they will give you much more information that I can in 10 minutes.

9. (with an OS MasterMap licence)
(with an OS MasterMap licence)
So just to reiterate, the habitat mapping is available from channelcoast.org/habitats or from strategic.monitoring with a mastermap licence.