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ÇÑ×ÓÊÓƵ Habitat Inventory is an evidence base which can help us make decisions regarding the protection and enhancement of our natural environment and wildlife that accord with the principles of landscape-scale nature conservation. Examples of what this evidence base can be used for include:

• Implementing habitat creation schemes, restoring habitat networks and designing monitoring programmes as part of the  process, helping to deliver the commitments for conservation and enhancement of the natural environment within the  such as informing our Local Nature Recovery Strategy and Biodiversity Reporting
• Delivering the commitments within the Natural Environment White Paper, published by Government in 2011, which promotes the creation of a resilient ecological network using the 'more, bigger, better, joined' approach: identifying more sites of nature conservation vale; increasing the size of existing sites; managing those sites better; and enhancing the connectivity between sites with sympathetically managed corridors
• Guiding planners and planning authorities to implement the  through the provision of Green Infrastructure in new development, minimising development impacts on biodiversity, supporting the establishment of coherent ecological networks and setting out a strategic approach in Local Plans to plan positively for the creation, protection, enhancement and management of biodiversity and Green Infrastructure.
• Helping organisations in ÇÑ×ÓÊÓƵ to work in partnership effectively to develop and deliver projects aimed at protecting and enhancing the county's landscape and biodiversity.
• Assisting with the identification of areas of ecological importance to inform the development of Sustainable Drainage Schemes (SuDS)

What can the web tool version of the ÇÑ×ÓÊÓƵ Habitat Inventory be used for?

The ÇÑ×ÓÊÓƵ Habitat Inventory 3 can help us make decisions regarding the protection and enhancement of the natural environment and wildlife in ÇÑ×ÓÊÓƵ. The online mapping tool allows layers of land use and habitat data to be overlaid as you navigate around the county, provides you with descriptions of the habitats and of land management and enables you to make measurements including size and distance calculations.

Examples of how the data within the ÇÑ×ÓÊÓƵ Habitat Inventory is already being used include:

• underpins the development of ÇÑ×ÓÊÓƵ’s Local Nature Recovery Strategy
• informing ÇÑ×ÓÊÓƵ County Council planning officers and district planning authorities in their decision-making processes
• helping ecological consultants target surveys and tailor Biodiversity Net Gain plans, as well as species and habitat specific mitigation and enhancement strategies
• providing baseline evidence for the ÇÑ×ÓÊÓƵ Green Infrastructure strategy and Green Infrastructure Concept Plans
• supporting preparation of Neighbourhood Plans
• informing the development and delivery of nature and landscape conservation projects by different organisations across the county

Limitations

The online mapping tool has some limitations that users need to be aware of.

• Remote sensing data can resolve habitat classes with degrees of certainty depending on both the ancillary data, time series of imagery and tier of habitat classification to be resolved, as set out in the .This means that certain habitat classes can be identified with higher degrees of confidence than others using a machine-led habitat identification approach of remote sensing data alone. For this reason, WHI3 also incorporates other datasets, and it is important that users interrogate ‘habitat source’ and ‘confidence’ ratings to understand the habitat identification mechanism for a particular land parcel, and the rationale underpinning consequent levels of habitat identification certainty as expressed in WHI3
• The age of the datasets or other information used within the WHI should be noted. While machine-led object identification uses multiple datasets, including 2016-2019 aerial and infra-red imagery, the aerial photo set used for the Aerial Photograph Interpretation process was flown in 2005 and interpreted between 2005 and 2007. Earlier datasets compiled from the 1970s onwards have also been incorporated into the habitat mapping processes. Targeted ‘Ground Truthing’ surveys have been undertaken between 2005 and 2020, and we continue to gather habitat information to ensure WHI3 remains ‘up-to-date’ and fit for purpose. We are keen to receive feedback on the content of the inventory in order to address any out-of-date survey information
• Incompleteness of some of the habitat datasets used to inform the WHI means information about some land parcels will be lacking. Although WHI3 mapping is more refined compared to WHI1, the extent of Biodiversity Action Plan-quality habitats is likely to still be under-estimated. This is especially the case for woodland and grassland as these habitats are known to be under-surveyed within the county. For example, where grasslands are identified as 'possibly unimproved' future ground-based survey work is likely to reveal previously unknown resources of BAP grassland
• Inaccuracies in Aerial Photograph Interpretation can arise due to distortions in colour, shadow, texture and pattern that may occur during the process of correcting for image perspective and relief. Photo-flights will also have taken place at different times or seasons during 2005 producing variations in light levels, cloud cover etc as well as differences in the appearance of habitats that change in colour or structure on a seasonal basis.
• Linear features, such as hedgerows and road verges, have been mapped during production of the WHI3 and help inform Habitat Network analysis. However, this is based on remote sensing data augmented by the embedded land-use data present in Ordnance Survey mapping products. Land use decisions should take particular care to ascertain functional connectivity between existing habitats and any linear features, ancient countryside or integrity and intactness of the countryside as a whole. The Habitat Network analysis mapping outputs are appropriate for use at a regional or county scale but at finer resolution should be treated as indicative only and analysis should always be augmented by more detailed local data and targeted ground survey
• Designated sites, such as Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and Local Wildlife Sites (LWS), are not included as separate layers within the WHI3 mapping site, although the pop-up information box in the 'Layers' mapping function will inform you of whether a particular land parcel has any such designations. For more detailed information about ÇÑ×ÓÊÓƵ SSSIs and LWSs contact the .
• Be aware that habitats and land use within certain land parcels may change on an annual basis, for example arable farmland with rotational grass leys and cropping patterns
• Wetland habitats are not well represented within the WHI3. The available data on the locations of this habitat is poor, predominantly because much of the remaining wetland and wet woodland comprises widespread small/micro features within dryer habitats, making them easily overlooked and under-recorded. Wetlands have also suffered considerably from drainage and agricultural improvement and there are very few sizeable areas of wetland remaining in ÇÑ×ÓÊÓƵ
• WHI2 users should refer to the supporting technical user guidance to understand the nature of underpinning data sources, the methods and assumptions in machine-led modelling of habitat identification from those data sources, and the model’s sensitivity, specificity and confidence scores in identification of each habitat class