D1561/001/01 - Phase 2 lowland peatland survey of Wales, 2004 - present
| Subject |
Vascular Plants |
| Abstract |
A detailed survey of plant communities in lowland peatland vegetation. One of the major strategic initiatives of Natural Resources Wales |
| Species Groups |
Alga [6], Clubmoss [1], Conifer [4], Fern [56], Flowering Plant [7604], Horsetail [323], Lichen [14], Liverwort [309], Moss [1837], Stonewort [9] |
| Geographic Coverage/Site Name |
Vice-County: All 5 North Wales Vice-Counties |
| Geographic Coverage Notes |
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 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 & 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.
CCW Staff Science Report No. 13/03/02 - Lowland Peatland Survey of Wales - Survey Manual (S.D.S. Bosanquet, P.S. Jones, D.K. Reed, K.S. Birch & A.J. Turner, 2013) |
| Dataset Owner |
Natural Resources Wales |
| Dataset Contact |
Barnaby Letheren |
| Date Range |
2000 - 2010 |
| Total Records |
10163 |
| Restriction Details |
Standard Restrictions Only
|
| Acknowledgements |
Cyfoeth Naturiol Cymru/Natural Resources Wales |
Further Details
| Original Title |
Phase 2 lowland peatland survey of Wales, 2004 - present |
| Temporal Coverage Notes |
2004-onwards (anticipated completion date 2016). Field survey is carried out annually between June and September. |
| Purpose |
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. |
| Capture Methods |
NVC survey methodology for lowland peatland communities followed. At lease one quadrat sample, normally 2x2 m square, was recorded in all vegetation communities that form part of the core peatland interest at each site. |
| Verification/Validation Procedures |
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. |
| Dataset Category |
Category 03: Dataset originates from other trusted source |
| Dataset Status |
Dataset Complete |
| Data Entry Project Completion Date |
N/A |
| Date Imported |
04/09/2015 |
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