{"access":"All Countryside Survey data is available via the UKCEH Environmental Information Data Centre (EIDC), along with field survey manuals available and metadata according to FAIR policy.  As required by Defra and landowners, the actual locations of Survey field sites are confidential (available only by 10km grid square) so UKCEH cannot provide physical access to field sites for further research.","capabilities":"The Countryside Survey was repeated at 8-10 year intervals since 1978, then from 2019 is conducted as a rolling programme that repeats every 5 years.  Each survey or rolling programme covers around 500 one-kilometre squares across England, Scotland and Wales, with a complementary survey in Northern Ireland, representing all major landscape types (including farmland; heath; moor; small rivers and ponds).  The Survey uses standardised ecological field survey methods, now aided by online tools and apps for smartphones and tablets, to record attributes such as: ecological habitats and landscape features; streams and ponds; plant species identity and abundance; plus soil health.","description":"The purpose of the UKCEH Countryside Survey is to monitor status and change in the UK countryside since 1978.  Data from the Survey serve as an audit of the natural resources of the countryside and are a great source of data for researchers and the general public alike. They are used for numerous purposes from fundamental research, to the UK National Ecosystem Assessment, the UK Natural Capital Accounts, agri-environment reporting, validating the UKCEH Land Cover Map and soil health reporting.  Researchers use the Survey data to understand, model and predict environmental change arising from pressures such as climate change, pollution, invasive non-native species and new crops.","fundingSources":"The UKCEH Countryside Survey is funded by UKRI-NERC National Capability (LTSS): UK-SCaPE programme.","id":"56b78b0a-9b9d-4d82-ace1-c383d21e989e","infrastructureCategory":{"value":"surveys","description":"Surveys","infrastructureClass":"Environmental observatories","uri":"http://vocabs.ceh.ac.uk/ri/surveys"},"infrastructureChallenge":[{"value":"Climate change: mitigation"},{"value":"Sustainable ecosystems: biodiversity net gain"}],"infrastructureScale":"UK","lifecycle":"The first Countryside Survey was conducted in 1978 then repeated in 1984, 1990, 1998 and 2007).   From 2019 the Survey is conducted as a rolling programme over a 5-year cycle, with a reduced focus on vegetation and soil.","locationText":"The Countryside Survey covers c500 sites (3000+ sampling points) across Great Britain, with periodic complementary surveys in Northern Ireland.","metadataDate":"2025-04-09T09:24:37","onlineResources":[{"url":"https://countrysidesurvey.org.uk/","name":"Countryside survey website","function":"website","type":"OTHER"},{"url":"https://countrysidesurvey.org.uk/sites/default/files/images/theme/UKCEHCountrysideSurvey_UpdatedLogo-2021_RGB.jpg","name":"Countryside survey logo","function":"image","type":"OTHER"}],"owners":[{"displayName":"Simon Smart","organisationName":"UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology","organisationIdentifier":"https://ror.org/00pggkr55","role":"owner","email":"ssma@ceh.ac.uk","address":{"city":"Lancaster"},"fullName":"Simon Smart"}],"resourceIdentifiers":[{"code":"https://catalogue-staging.ceh.ac.uk/id/3d96cd86-79d6-4683-bda9-3d9799fe9d18"},{"code":"https://catalogue.ceh.ac.uk/id/56b78b0a-9b9d-4d82-ace1-c383d21e989e"}],"scienceArea":"Soils and Land Use","title":"UKCEH Countryside Survey","type":"infrastructureRecord","uniqueness":"The Countryside Survey is the only survey of its kind that: (1) Captures national metrics for habitat, vegetation, soil, headwater and pond status and change; and (2) Is structured, robust, in repeated locations, and stratified to represent the national picture.","uri":"https://catalogue.ceh.ac.uk/id/56b78b0a-9b9d-4d82-ace1-c383d21e989e","users":["Countryside Survey users include: National Statistics; UK Natural Ecosystem Assessment; UK Natural Capital Accounts; government reporting on agri-environment and soil health; validating the UKCEH Land Cover Map; plus UKCEH and other researchers seeking to model and predict environmental change."]}