Nature on the Map post April 2011

Natural England remains committed to maintaining the Nature on the Map service. We anticipate that after April 2011 Nature on the Map’s functionality will be provided from within the Natural England website rather than as a stand-alone site. We can’t at this stage rule out the possibility of further changes but we will as always keep the user community informed.

Bigger maps and new, improved Agri-environment Schemes Map - including Higher Level Scheme Target Areas and expanded agreement information.

We've updated the site to make it simpler to use, by providing larger maps, and clearer symbols in the Agri-environment Schemes map. This map now also includes the new HLS Target Areas, standardised summary information about each Environmental Stewardship Scheme (ESS), Countryside Stewardship Scheme (CSS) and Environmentally Sensitive Areas (ESA) agreement, and links to more detailed information about the ESS and CSS agreements. The map also now shows which agreements provide access to the general public.

In addition, we have updated and improved the information on Farmland Birds in the Targeting and Planning map; this now reflects the information that was used to inform the development of the HLS Target Areas.

New Approach to Targeting Higher Level Stewardship agreements launched

HLS Target Areas coming soon to Nature on the Map - In February 2009 we aim to integrate the new HLS Target Areas with the current Agri-environment Schemes map. This will allow you to use the site's search facility to find your neighbourhood, view live agri-environment schemes, and view in detail the new areas within which Natural England will proactively seek to establish new agreements. You will also be able to click on a Target Area, and from the Information results page click to view the Target Area Statement on the Natural England website. See www.naturalengland.org.uk more details on the new HLS Targeting approach.

New Agri-environment Schemes Map supporting Land Management Campaign

We have added a new map containing a range of Agri-Environment Schemes datasets - Environmental Stewardship Schemes, English Woodland Grant Schemes, Woodland Grant Schemes, Environmentally Sensitive Areas and Countryside Stewardship Schemes. This information will support primarily the aims of the Sustainable Land Management Campaign to raise the visibility of the environmental benefits that these schemes bring to much of the countryside. Further improvements to printing facilities are currently under development.

New features and updated data

We have added a new map that shows how money spent on Agri-environment schemes is contributing towards meeting Natural England's Public Service Agreement (PSA) Target of achieving 'Favourable Condition' on 95% of all Sites of Special Scientific Interest by 2010. You can see summary statistics by Government Region, National Character Area or County.

We have also improved the quality and presentation of information in the Targeting and Planning Map that relates to Natural England's PSA Target to reverse the decline of Farmland Birds. This should make it simpler for HLS Scheme applicants and their advisers to understand where their land lies in relation to breeding or wintering records for key Farmland Bird species. These areas are important in determining which parts of England will be targeted under HLS.

Finally, in this update we have introduced a preliminary set of Natural England Area Team boundaries, and updated the Natural England Office Locations. Use the Information Tool with the Office locations data to get contact information for the relevant teams.

Nature on the Map moves to Natural England

Today we release a completely new design for the site in line with the dissolution of English Nature and the creation of Natural England which now governs Nature on the Map. The site now follows the new organisation's Corporate Identity - we will be looking to make more changes to the content to reflect the new organisational structure, such as new Area Team boundaries and office locations, in due course. Find out much more from the Natural England main website here.

Targeting and Planning Map released!

We have replaced the Advanced Map with a new Targeting and Planning Map to coincide with the release of Defra's new Environmental Stewardship Scheme (ESS) (http://www.naturalengland.org.uk/ourwork/farming/funding/es/default.aspx). As well as retaining the ability to generate Thematic Maps based on the extent of BAP Priority habitats (see What's in the Targeting and Planning Map : BAP Priority Habitats stream), we have added a range of new information, to help those preparing applications for Environmental Stewardship Scheme, especially the Higher Level Stewardship (HLS), but also the Entry Level Scheme (ELS).

For example:
 
Priority Catchments: you can now generate and query maps that show designated sites known to be at risk of diffuse agricultural pollution, and display the extent of the hydrological catchments thought to impact upon the condition of those sites (see What's in the Targeting and Planning Map: Priority Catchments stream). This information will prove a useful indicator in identifying whether resource protection measures available through ES may be appropriate in the vicinity of these sites; although other information may also be required to support this.
 
Farmland Birds: you can now create maps to show the significance of areas for certain Farmland Birds, and detailed maps are also available that indicate whether important recent populations have been recorded in your area of interest. This information is derived from recent partnership working between English Nature, The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (The RSPB), British Trust for Ornithology (BTO), and Defra (see What's in the Targeting and Planning Map: Farmland Birds stream).

SuperSite Designated Sites data released!

This month sees the first release of the new 'SuperSite' designated sites boundaries. These boundaries have been completely re-captured from source maps using the new Ordnance Survey MasterMap product as a base rather than the older and less detailed 1:10,000 scale mapping. A new new data capture and management system has also been put in place. The quality of the data has therefore vastly improved. The boundaries are far more detailed, although they will not precisely follow the 1:10,000 scale background mapping at very small scales. In future we hope to bring you background mapping derived from MasterMap, which will be more suitable. Initially, some SSSI Units are missing, or may have incorrect links to their page on the English Nature main website - for more information click here. In addition, the International Sites have only provisional boundaries where they cross in to Wales or Scotland - for more information click here.

Sites Search facility launched!

We've added extra searching power to our site! Now, via the Welcome page or the Search facility, you can find Nature on the Map designated sites that overlap other sites, or features such as Counties or Westminster Constituencies, and you can also find designated sites which fall within 10, 20, 30, 40 or 50km of a place name or postcode.

Nature on the Map official launch!

Although it has been available since the Go Live date, this is the official launch day. At launch, the site contains four interactive maps, a powerful search feature, links from some map features to find out more about them, and tools to print and email maps.

Nature on the Map goes live!

We're proud to announce that Nature on the Map was made available as a fully functioning interactive map site today! The project is part-funded by the Government's Capital Modernisation Fund, and forms a part of English Nature's programme of work called Nature for People.