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  • The dataset contains information about insect visitations to flowers growing in seed mix trial plots on two farms, one in West Sussex, and one in Oxfordshire. The data was collected during the spring and summer seasons of 2019, 2020, and 2021. Seed mix trial plots were walked centrally and insects visiting flowers in the plots were recorded, and where possible, identified to genus or species level. The work was supported by the Natural Environment Research Council (NE/P009972/1) Full details about this dataset can be found at https://doi.org/10.5285/ca785f4c-5e45-4743-83bb-e30dd620de2e

  • This dataset includes records of insect pollinator and flower data from within a wide range of land use types across Wales, collected as part of the Environment and Rural Affairs Monitoring & Modelling Programme (ERAMMP) National Field Survey (NFS) between the summers of 2021-2023. Professional surveyors conducted transect surveys (counting pollinating insects) and timed observations (recording insect-flower interactions). Butterflies were recorded to species-level, and bees and hoverflies were recorded to functional group-level. Density of flowering plants on each transect section was recorded on a DAFOR-X scale. In total, 146 1 x 1 km grid squares in Wales were surveyed, with each visited twice in one year in either 2021 or 2023. ERAMMP NFS is a resurvey of all of the 300 locations from the initial Glastir Monitoring and Evaluation Programme (GMEP) monitoring program (300 1km squares) on a rolling annual basis, with the aim to resurvey all sites between 2021 and 2025. The initial monitoring program, GMEP, was set up by the Welsh Government in 2013 to report national trends and monitor the effects of the Glastir agri-environment scheme on the environment and ran from 2013 to 2016. The field survey element was based on a stratified random sampling design of 300 x 1km square sites across Wales, and was managed by the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology. Full details about this dataset can be found at https://doi.org/10.5285/1b90ebdc-3aa3-4832-8a3f-067494d8d218

  • This dataset consists of plant species presence and abundance in vegetation plots located on hedges, recorded from 248 1km squares across England in 2022 and 2023, as part of a survey of hedges funded by Natural England. The survey sites belong to the UKCEH Countryside Survey, which is a unique study or 'audit' of the natural resources of the UK's countryside. The sample sites are chosen from a stratified random sample, based on a 15 by 15 km grid of GB. Surveys have previously been carried out in 1978, 1984, 1990, 1998 and 2007 by the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (UKCEH) and predecessors, with repeated visits to the majority of squares. The countryside is sampled and surveyed using rigorous scientific methods, allowing us to compare new results with those from previous surveys. In this way, we can detect the gradual and subtle changes that occur in the UK's countryside over time. Full details about this dataset can be found at https://doi.org/10.5285/48394dea-f17d-4e38-896c-ac845db852b9

  • This dataset consists of plant species presence and abundance in different sizes of plots recorded from 105 1km squares across Great Britain in 2024, as part of a rolling soil and vegetation monitoring program of 500 1km squares, beginning in 2019 and repeated every 5 years. 2024 represents the first year of a new cycle. The UKCEH Countryside Survey is a unique study or 'audit' of the natural resources of the UK's countryside. The sample sites are chosen from a stratified random sample, based on a 15 by 15 km grid of GB. Surveys have previously been carried out in 1978, 1984, 1990, 1998 and 2007 by the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (UKCEH) and predecessors, with repeated visits to the majority of squares. The countryside is sampled and surveyed using rigorous scientific methods, allowing us to compare new results with those from previous surveys. In this way, we can detect the gradual and subtle changes that occur in the UK's countryside over time. In addition to vegetation data, soil data are also gathered by the current phase of the Countryside Survey. This research was supported by NERC, through the UKCEH National Capability for UK Challenges Programme NE/Y006208/1. Full details about this dataset can be found at https://doi.org/10.5285/24a2e5d9-d148-4b58-b0fa-a8e3d4b78511

  • This dataset consists of ecology data from 16 paired field sites; each pair consisting of an organic and conventional farm. A multiscale sampling design was employed to assess the impact of (i) location-within-field (field margin vs. edge vs. centre), (ii) crop type (arable cereal vs. permanent pasture), (iii) farm management (organic vs. conventional) and (iv) landscape-scale management (landscapes that contained low or high fractions of organic land) on a wide range of taxa. Studied taxa include birds, insect pollinators (hoverflies, bumblebees and solitary bees), epigeal arthropods, aphids and their natural enemies, earthworms and plants. The study is part of the NERC Rural Economy and Land Use (RELU) programme. A move to organic farming can have significant effects on wildlife, soil and water quality, as well as changing the ways in which food is supplied, the economics of farm business and indeed the attitudes of farmers themselves. Two key questions were addressed in the SCALE project: what causes organic farms to be arranged in clusters at local, regional and national scales, rather than be spread more evenly throughout the landscape; and how do the ecological, hydrological, socio-economic and cultural impacts of organic farming vary due to neighbourhood effects at a variety of scales. The research was undertaken in 2006-2007 in two study sites: one in the English Midlands, and one in southern England. Both are sites in which organic farming has a 'strong' local presence, which we defined as 10 per cent or more organically managed land within a 10 km radius. Potential organic farms were identified through membership lists of organic farmers provided by two certification bodies (the Soil Association and the Organic Farmers and Growers). Most who were currently farming (i.e. their listing was not out of date) agreed to participate. Conventional farms were identified through telephone listings. Respondents' farms ranged in size from 40 to 3000 acres, with the majority farming between 100 and 1000 acres. Most were mixed crop-livestock farmers, with dairy most common in the southern site, and beef and/or sheep mixed with arable in the Midlands. In total, 48 farms were studied, of which 21 were organic farmers. No respondent had converted from organic to conventional production, whereas 17 had converted from conventional to organic farming. Twelve of the conventional farmers defined themselves as practicing low input agriculture. Farmer interview data from this study are available at the UK Data Archive under study number 6761. Soil data from agricultural land under differing crop and management regimes,are also available. Further documentation for this study may be found through the RELU Knowledge Portal and the project's ESRC funding award web page (see Supplemental).