UK Habitat Classification
Habitats are the places where plants and animals live. The UK has a huge variety, ranging from ancient woodlands to flower-rich meadows and from exposed rocky mountain tops to tidal saltmarsh. Classifying this rich variety of habitat allows ecologists to describe them, monitor change and communicate their importance to others.
The UK Habitat Classification is a new, free-to-use, unified and comprehensive approach to classifying habitats, designed to provide a simple and robust approach to survey and monitoring for the 21st century. A Working Group of professional ecologists has developed and refined the UK Habitat Classification (UKHab), with a combination of field trials and expert consultations. The new classification, which covers terrestrial and freshwater habitats, is flexible enough for use in a wide range of survey types from walkover surveys of small urban sites to regional and national scale rural habitat mapping. The classification, which includes a comprehensive Professional Edition and an abridged Basic Edition, will be a valuable tool for species and habitat research, ecological impact, ecosystem services and biodiversity net gain assessments. Our publication “Introducing the UK Habitat Classification – Updating Our Approach to Habitat Survey, Monitoring and Assessment” is available here, with kind permission of CIEEM.
The classification is published below with supporting information and guidance. You are very welcome to download the materials and explore their use in the field. We encourage you to try out UKHab for yourself, look out for our training courses and feedback your experiences to the Working Group. Find out more.
The UKHab Working Group
The UKHab Working Group 2014-18 – Bill Butcher, Peter Carey, Bob Edmonds, Lisa Norton and Jo Treweek.
Acknowledgements
UK Habitat Classification Documents
UK Habitat Classification
Workbooks (xls) containing:
- UK Habitat Classification (Professional Edition)
- UK Habitat Classification (Basic Edition)
- Cross tabulations with legacy classifications, such as Phase 1
The UKHab Reference Guide
UKHab Reference Guide
Available Now
The UKHab App is a guide to the UK Habitat Classification for use on mobile devices in the field, office or home. It gives rapid access to habitat names,definitions, codes and associated species:
- Quick reference on tablet or phone.
- Find codes and habitat names fast.
- Descriptions and codes for all habitats.
- Basic and Professional Edition options.
- Images for habitats in Basic Edition.
- Characteristic species and indicators for habitats.
Training
UK Habitat Classification Training
We expect that most professional ecologists working in the UK who are competent botanists and experienced in other methods of habitat survey will find UKHab intuitive and easy to use. The User Manual provides all the basic information required to conduct a habitat survey using UKHab.
A suite of training courses, led by professional ecologists, are available throughout 2018. These courses will ensure that, whatever your current level of expertise, learning how to use UKHab will be straightforward. Training events include webinars, short introductory sessions and longer sessions combining field and desk-based study.
We also offer introductory training for those training specialists interested in becoming UKHab trainers themselves in the future. Bespoke training for corporations, public, private and charitable organizations and educational establishments can also be arranged on request.
As UKHab is a new system, we encourage ecologists to sign up for a training event. All UKHab accredited training will contribute to your Continuing Professional Development.
Contact Us
Please check FAQs and the User Manual initially for any technical questions about the UK Habitat Classification and its linked resources. If you can’t find the answer there please contact us through this form and we will get you an answer as soon as we can.