About

Why is Countryside Survey important?

Countryside Survey provides scientifically reliable evidence about the state or ‘health’ of the UK’s countryside today. We can compare 2007’s findings against the findings of previous Countryside Surveys from 1998, 1990, 1984 and 1978. We can then identify change (and the relative rate of change) in the countryside.  This evidence is used to help form policies that influence management of the countryside, both now and in the future.

• See more about Policy and Planning

What does the Survey do?

There are two parts to the Survey: the Field Survey and the Land Cover Map. The Field Survey involves an in-depth study of a sample of 1km squares in the countryside. The Land Cover Map uses data from satellites to form a digital map of the different types of land and vegetation across the UK.

• See more about the Field Survey
• See more about the Land Cover Map

The work for the 2007 survey was carried out as a series of related Work Packages, which include soils, freshwaters, habitats and landscape features.

• See more about the project structure

How are the findings used?

The findings of Countryside Survey are used to:

• improve scientific understanding of the countryside’s landscape, vegetation, freshwater and soils
• assess changes in the area and distribution of broad habitats* and some habitat types of special interest (e.g. Hedgerows, Arable Field Margins and Upland Heath)
• examine how the countryside’s natural resources respond to changes in land use, climate change and government policy
• contribute to Government’s reporting of biodiversity
• assess progress against target indicators in Biodiversity Strategies for the UK and the devolved countries

[See also Science and Research & Policy and Planning]

*For more information on habitat types visit:

• Joint Nature Conservation Committee UK Habitat Classifications
• UK Biodiversity Action Plan: Priority Habitats associated with a particular Broad Habitat