Cite this dataset as
Norton, B.A., Mears, M., Warren, P.H., Siriwardena, G.M., Plummer, K.E., Turner, T., Hancock, S., Grafius, D.R., Evans, K.L. (2023). Biodiversity and environmental conditions along public walking routes in three UK towns (Bedford, Luton and Milton Keynes), 2014. NERC EDS Environmental Information Data Centre. (Dataset). https://doi.org/10.5285/65b23264-2991-4ce2-83e7-7729a3947d75
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This dataset is available under the terms of the Open Government Licence 
Biodiversity and environmental conditions along public walking routes in three UK towns (Bedford, Luton and Milton Keynes), 2014
The data describe a set of field surveys to assess conditions along public walking routes. A spectrum of urban forms was identified in the towns of Bedford, Luton and Milton Keynes, in the UK. A sample of these were surveyed on foot to measure biodiversity and environmental conditions during the day. These were supplemented with landscape-scale remotely sensed data characterising the surrounding landscape.
Publication date: 2023-04-28
View record as
Formats
Comma-separated values (CSV)
Shapefile
Spatial information
- Study area
-
- Spatial representation types
-
Tabular (text)
Vector - Spatial reference system
- GB place names
Temporal information
- Temporal extent
-
2014-05-01 to 2014-09-30
Provenance & quality
The data were collected between May and September 2014 in Bedford, Luton and Milton Keynes, UK. A subset of 500m x 500m survey tiles (n = 109) were selected from across the three towns using a stratified sampling design. Transect routes of 700m were established in each survey tile. Butterfly visual surveys (species and abundance) were undertaken along the routes using the Pollard Walk. Trees species and abundance were recorded at eight 10-m radius survey points at 100-m intervals along the transect. Bird surveys (two 10-minute counts) were conducted at four publicly accessible points in each tile. Environmental data were collected using instruments mounted on aluminium backpack frames, carried by a field surveyor. A particulate matter counter (Dylos DC1700) recorded continuously along the transect. A separate backpack carried an Optimus Red Sound Level Meter and two ibuttons. At the eight survey points along the route, plus two additional points per route, these recorded LAeq and temperature, respectively. Measures of the surrounding environment (road density, distance from urban edge, impervious surface cover, percent industrial land use, foliage height diversity, median patch size, residential garden cover, Index of Multiple Deprivation) were calculated at the tile level from a variety of spatial data sources. Field data were manually input or uploaded as appropriate and were compiled and error checked. Quality assurance was managed by the senior researcher carrying out the processing of each dataset, overseen by the principal and co-investigators of the project. Data were compiled and exported as a csv file for deposit into the EIDC, along with shapefiles of associated spatial data.
Related
This dataset is included in the following collections
Citations
Norton BA, Mears M, Warren PH, Siriwardena GM, Plummer KE, Turner T, Hancock S, Grafius DR, Evans KL (2023) Biodiversity and environmental stressors along urban walking routes. Urban Forestry and Urban Greening, 127951 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ufug.2023.127951
Supplemental information
ARSF Flight 2012_208 - for RG12_10: Hyperspectral Remote Sensing Measurements. Centre for Environmental Data Analysis, 22 February 2018.
ARSF Flight 2012_249 - for RG12_10: Hyperspectral Remote Sensing Measurements. Centre for Environmental Data Analysis, 22 February 2018.
ARSF Flight 2012_250 - for RG12_10: Hyperspectral Remote Sensing Measurements. Centre for Environmental Data Analysis, 22 February 2018.
ARSF Flight 2012_206b - For RG12_10: Hyperspectral Remote Sensing Measurements. Centre for Environmental Data Analysis, 22 February 2018.
Correspondence/contact details
Authors
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9354-5904
Turner, T.
University of Sheffield
Other contacts
- Rights holders
-
University of Sheffield, Cranfield University, British Trust for Ornithology, University of Exeter
- Custodian
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NERC EDS Environmental Information Data Centreinfo@eidc.ac.uk
- Publisher
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NERC EDS Environmental Information Data Centreinfo@eidc.ac.uk
Additional metadata
- Topic categories
- biota
environment - INSPIRE theme
- Environmental Monitoring Facilities
- Keywords
- atmospheric particulate , Bedford , Bedfordshire , BESS , bird , Buckinghamshire , butterfly , F3UES , Luton , Milton Keyes , noise , Particulate matter , Point count , Pollard walk , Public right of way , temperature , Transect , tree , United Kingdom , urban area , UrbanBess , Walking route
- Funding
- Natural Environment Research Council Award: NE/J015369/1, NE/ J015067/1, NE/ J015067/1, NE/J015237/1
- Last updated
- 27 February 2024 16:14