UKBAP Habitats Condition Assessment – Yorkshire Dales National Park

Client – Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority

Key Services – Habitat Assessment

Duration – 2012 onwards

Project Overview – Condition Assessment of UK Biodiversity Action Plan Habitats within Yorkshire Dales National Park

Ecological Input – The surveys mapped and assessed the ecological conditions of UK BAP

habitats, including upland hay-meadow, calcareous grassland, native woodland, blanket bog, heathland and limestone pavement in areas outside of SSSI across the Yorkshire Dales.

Each year a different part of the Park is focussed upon, with local landowners invited to allow survey of habitats on their land. Surveys followed the Farm Environment Plan (FEP) protocols, allowing landowners to use the data to support agri-environment scheme applications.

In August 2016 the National Park expanded to include an additional 161 square miles of upland landscape in Cumbria and Lancashire, and over a two year period we had the privilege of undertaking the very first habitat assessments within this new area of the Park.

Outcomes – Between 2012 and 2019 the entirety of the National Park, landowner permitting has been covered. Return visits were undertaken from 2020 onwards to update the assessment of areas.

Following field surveys the data is then painstakingly plotted onto the National Park’s existing GIS dataset using MapInfo and QGIS software, creating a detailed map of habitats across the National Park.

The results of the survey will go on to inform important management decisions and activities in the National Park to help achieve Local BAP targets.