A tool to help farmers and land managers to develop connected, climate-resilient habitats
An introduction to Re:Cover
The Yorkshire Dales National Park is home to nationally and internationally important landscapes and wildlife. As 97% of the National Park is in private ownership the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority works with local landowners, land managers and partner organisations to protect and improve these special areas. One way in which we can do this is through data sharing and advice to aid decision making.
Re:Cover is an interactive map created to share information on the known cover of priority habitat within the National Park. The aim is for you to be able to view the habitats recorded in a given area and also see how these connect to habitats on neighbouring land and the wider area. In addition, we have created networks that show the potential opportunities to expand and connect habitats; making them and the wildlife which relies on them more resilient.
The Joint Nature Conservation Committee define priority habitats as ‘semi-natural habitats that were identified as being the most threatened and requiring conservation action under the UK Biodiversity Action Plan (UK BAP)’. It is important to note that although the map focusses on priority habitats there are other areas which are equally important such as sites with designations, breeding wader habitat and sites suitable for priority species.
Please note…..
The map is intended to provide information only and therefore should not be used in isolation. There are many other factors which need to be considered when making land management decisions. As a result we have created a guidance document to be used alongside the map. This document provides information on some of the limitations, descriptions of each layer, how to use the map and links to supporting documents.
It is also important to note Re:Cover does not replace the information provided on the Defra mapping website MAGIC. Therefore, for grant applications, the layers on MAGIC override any data provided here.
Click Re:Cover to launch the map
The Re:Cover content
Existing Habitat Layers
There are 17 priority habitats within the National Park and these have been divided into 9 habitat groups:
- Blanket bog
- Calaminarian grassland
- Calcareous grassland
- Limestone rock
- Meadows & Species-rich grassland
- Purple Moor-grass & rush pasture
- Upland Heath
- Wetlands
- Woodlands
Many areas of land represented on the map are mosaics of different priority habitats and also include non-priority habitat. Therefore one parcel of land may appear on more than one habitat layer. Due to this a list of the different habitats surveyed for each individual parcel of land is available on the map. We have provided more detail on the breakdown of each habitat group in the guidance document to explain this further.
Habitat Network Layers
We created the habitat networks from their corresponding existing habitat layer, excluding Limestone rock because this cannot be created only protected. Each network is based on existing ‘core habitat’ and shows the potential to expand or connect these in a ‘zone of opportunity’. Many of the networks overlap and managing the land for a mosaic of habitats may be relevant for these areas as opposed to focussing on one over another.
Woodland Opportunities Map
These layers have been created to indicate the likelihood for native woodland creation including natural colonisation. Multiple datasets representing many of the constraints and opportunities considered when assessing woodland suitability were used to create these layers. This map does not replace the full consultation process and is an indicative tool only.
For the full guidance and for more information see the Woodland Opportunities Map page.
Additional Layers
The following features are accessible in the interactive map so as to provide additional important information:
- Sites of Special Scientific Interest
- Ancient Semi-Natural Woodland
- Support and advice
We would like to highlight that the majority of land represented on this map is under private ownership. Therefore inclusion of any area on the map implies no automatic right of access. Members of the public interested in visiting these areas should follow Public Rights of Way and obey the relevant rules and regulations on Open Access land unless they have prior permission to access from the landowner.
Have a comment?
We hope you find Re:Cover useful however we are continually looking at ways to improve the mapping. So if you notice something that doesn’t work quite right or have any ideas on how Re:Cover can be improved please email us at laura.mealin@yorkshiredales.org.uk
And not forgetting…..
Our thanks go to the Northern Upland Chain Local Nature Partnership for their advice with creating the habitat networks. Although there are some differences between our networks these are compatible to view the larger picture beyond the National Park boundary.