North-West Irish Sea Mounds Survey (2003, 2006 and 2007). The North-West Irish Sea Mounds are a group of bedrock outcrops between Northern Ireland and Scotland. The aim was to improve understanding of the habitats and communities identified as potentially containing Annex I reef habitat according to the EC Habitats Directive and to map the bedrock outcrops to enable JNCC to assess the areas suitability for selection as a Special Area of Conservation (SAC). Data from four research cruises contributed to this project. 2007 surveys (21/01/2007-24/01/2007 and 25/02/2007) RV Corystes - drop down video and grab sample data. The first survey's video was poor quality due to poor visibility. 2006 survey (12/11/2006) RV Corystes - Grab sample data only. 2003 survey (01/06/2003-23/06/2003) RV Lough Foyle - multibeam, drop down video and grab sample data. Defra Natural Environmental Group Science Division (CRO 361) made a significant financial contribution to this work. Joint © 2007 DEFRA, JNCC and AFBI. The geology component of the data is archived at the British Geological Survey (BGS) MEDIN Data Archive Centre (DAC) for Geology and Geophysics. Biological and bathymetry data are archived at DASSH and UKHO respectively. For more information see http://jncc.defra.gov.uk/page-4736 and JNCC Report 410: http://jncc.defra.gov.uk/page-4493.

The JNCC marine survey was undertaken by CEFAS in April 2008 in the Dogger Bank area North Sea onboard the Cefas Endeavour. This work was in support of JNCC’s requirement to recommend sites for designation as Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) to UK Government, under the EC Habitats Directive. The aim was further developing methodologies for identifying and defining the extent of Annex I shallow sandbank habitat and to conduct new habitat mapping surveys to further develop and integrate geomorphological and biological survey methods and strategies to provide interpreted information in GIS for use in site designation and management of activities in the Dogger bank area. Multibeam bathymetry data were collected using a Kongsberg EM3000D and sidescan sonar data were collected using a Benthos SIS 1624. Groundtruthing techniques including video tows, Hamon grab sampling and beam trawling. The geology and geophysics component of the data are archived at the British Geological Survey (BGS) MEDIN Data Archive Centre (DAC) for Geology and Geophysics. Biological and bathymetry data are archived at DASSH and UKHO respectively. For more information see http://jncc.defra.gov.uk/page-4733, JNCC Report 429, available at http://jncc.defra.gov.uk/page-5076. Technical details of the survey are contained in CEFAS Cruise Report CEND 07/08.

This JNCC marine survey took place in July 2009 and surveyed two areas (Anton Dohrn seamount and East Rockall Bank Reef) for offshore Special Areas of Conservation (SACs). These areas are both now pSACs. The survey was commissioned by JNCC and undertaken by the British Geological Survey, University of Plymouth and Marin Mättenik AB. The aim was to enable the distribution, extent and biological characterisation of Annex I reef. Sidescan sonar data was acquired using a MMT AB EdgeTech 2200-MP, Multibeam bathymetry data were collected using a Kongsberg EM710, a Seatronics Drop Frame Camera System was used for digital photography and video. The geology and geophysics component of the data are archived at the British Geological Survey (BGS) MEDIN Data Archive Centre (DAC) for Geology and Geophysics. Biological and bathymetry data are archived at DASSH and UKHO respectively. For more information see http://jncc.defra.gov.uk/page-5026. Technical details of the survey are contained in BGS Commercial Report CR/09/113 (http://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/511601/), http://jncc.defra.gov.uk/PDF/2009_3_JNCC_Cruise_Report_Public%20(2).pdf.

Mid Irish Sea reefs Survey (2006-2007). The aim of this survey was to improve understanding of the habitats and communities present in an area of the Irish Sea identified as potentially containing Annex I reef habitat according to the Habitats Directive. Survey cruises were undertaken in November 2006 (Multibeam), January 2007 (Sampling) and March 2007 (Sampling) onboard Research Vessel Aora, with specialists from the National Oceanography Centre (NOC), ERT (Scotland) Ltd (ERT), University Marine Biological Station and Seatronics Ltd. Data collected included multibeam, drop down video and stills camera images. Defra Natural Environmental Group Science Division (CRO 361) made a significant financial contribution to this work. Joint © 2006 Defra, JNCC and ERT (Scotland) Ltd. The geology component of the data is archived at the British Geological Survey (BGS) MEDIN Data Archive Centre (DAC) for Geology and Geophysics. Biological and bathymetry data are archived at DASSH and UKHO respectively. For more information see http://jncc.defra.gov.uk/page-4735, JNCC Report 411: http://jncc.defra.gov.uk/page-4518.

This marine multibeam and sampling survey was undertaken on Stanton Banks by the Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC), Centre for Environment, Fisheries & Aquaculture Science (CEFAS) and British Geological Survey (BGS) in July/August 2012 on board the Northern Lighthouse Board vessel NLV Polestar. The survey was led by the JNCC and included a team from CEFAS who were involved in benthic sampling. A combination of surveys methods were employed, including seabed imagery (drop camera), day grabs and rock dredges. BGS collected sea floor multibeam bathymetry data using a Kongsberg EM3002D multibeam system. The multibeam data are archived by BGS. Technical details of the multibeam survey are contained in the BGS Report of Survey CR/12/100.

The survey was led by the Joint Nature Conservation Committee, in collaboration with the Marine Institute, the British Geological Survey and the University of Plymouth. Defra Natural Environment Group Science Division (CRO 361) made a significant contribution to this work. This work contributed to the MESH project (www.searchmesh.net). The MESH Project ran between 2004 and 2008 and was made up of a consortium of twelve partners from five European countries led by the UK’s Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC), with financial support from the EC’s INTERREG IIIB NWE Programme. The MESH partnership drew together scientific and technical habitat-mapping skills, expertise in data collation and its management, and proven practical experience in the use of seabed-habitat maps for environmental management within national regulatory frameworks. The aims of the R/V Celtic Explorer cruise (CE0705) on 4th-18th June 2007 were to acquire high resolution multibeam, sub-bottom profiler and camera data in the SW Approaches area, located approximately 320km southwest of Land's End. The cruise not only mapped the variable morphology of the SW Approaches area, but also investigated the biological communities within the canyon system for the assessment of potential Special Areas of Conservation (SAC) under the EC Habitats and Birds Directive (Annex I) (Johnston et al. 2002). The cruise also tested the application of the survey standards and protocols developed under the MESH project. The cruise was the first thorough test for the recently completed MESH Guidance Framework, providing a 'proof of concept' from planning to completion. The backscatter and geophysics data are archived and available for download at the British Geological Survey (BGS) MEDIN Data Archive Centre (DAC) for Geology and Geophysics. Biological and bathymetry data are archived at DASSH and UKHO respectively. Technical details of the survey are contained in BGS Commissioned Report CR/07/123N (http://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/507379/). Final Report (http://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/507378/). GeoIndex Offshore - https://mapapps2.bgs.ac.uk/geoindex_offshore/home.html?cruise=2007/6_MESH&.

The JNCC marine survey took place in May 2008 within the Submarine structures in the mid-Irish Sea Area of Search (AoS) and the Solan Bank AoS on board the RV CEFAS Endeavour. The aim was identifying habitats listed under Annex I of the EC Habitats Directive; primarily Submarine structures made by leaking gases in the former AoS and Reef habitat in the latter. Multibeam bathymetry was collected using a Kongsberg EM3000D system and sidescan sonar data which was collected using a Benthos SIS 1624 sidescan sonar. Ground-truthing techniques included towed & drop down video/stills and Hamon grab sampling. Rock dredge sampling was also used on a few stations to gather samples of epibiota from hard substrata to assist with the taxonomic ID of the video & still images. The geology and geophysics component of the data are archived at the British Geological Survey (BGS) MEDIN Data Archive Centre (DAC) for Geology and Geophysics. Biological and bathymetry data are archived at DASSH and UKHO respectively. For more information see http://jncc.defra.gov.uk/page-4732. Technical details of the survey are contained in JNCC report No. 430, http://jncc.defra.gov.uk/page-5347 and BGS subsample analysis report CR/09/51. JNCC Contract No: F90-01-1200.

[THIS DATASET HAS BEEN WITHDRAWN]. This dataset contains the linkages between designated features and their relevant critical loads or levels. The designated features come from the UK network of protected nature sites including: (i) Special Areas of Conservation (SAC) (ii) Special Protection Areas (SPA) (iii) Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) - England, Scotland, Wales (iv) Areas of Special Scientific Interest (ASSI) - Northern Ireland. Critical loads and levels are set under the auspices of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution. For nutrient nitrogen critical loads are based on empirical evidence, mainly observations from experiments and targeted gradient studies. These empirical critical loads are assigned to habitat classes of the European Nature Information System (EUNIS) to enable consistency of habitat terminology and understanding across Europe. In order to assign the relevant critical load to Annex I features, A/SSSI habitat features, or habitats of Annex II/SPA features, habitat correspondence tables are used to determine the relationship between the EUNIS classes for which nitrogen critical loads are set and the interest features. Critical loads of acidity are based on soil and habitat types. They are set for six Broad Habitats; acid grassland, calcareous grassland, dwarf shrub heath, bogs, montane, unmanaged coniferous and broadleaved woodland. Critical Levels for air pollutants are not habitat specific and have been set to cover broad vegetation types (e.g. forest arable, semi-natural), often with critical values set for sensitive lichens and bryophytes. They have been derived from experiments and observation that show varied effects on vegetation including visible injury symptoms of exposure and species composition changes in semi-natural vegetation. Full details about this dataset can be found at https://doi.org/10.5285/c37cb567-6afc-4cf8-b0bc-8ec054346a6f

This dataset contains the linkages between designated features and their relevant critical loads or levels. The designated features come from the UK network of protected nature sites including: (i) Special Areas of Conservation (SAC) (ii) Special Protection Areas (SPA) (iii) Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) - England, Scotland, Wales (iv) Areas of Special Scientific Interest (ASSI) - Northern Ireland. Critical loads and levels are set under the auspices of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution. For nutrient nitrogen critical loads are based on empirical evidence, mainly observations from experiments and targeted gradient studies. These empirical critical loads are assigned to habitat classes of the European Nature Information System (EUNIS) to enable consistency of habitat terminology and understanding across Europe. In order to assign the relevant critical load to Annex I features, A/SSSI habitat features, or habitats of Annex II/SPA features, habitat correspondence tables are used to determine the relationship between the EUNIS classes for which nitrogen critical loads are set and the interest features. Critical loads of acidity are based on soil and habitat types. They are set for six Broad Habitats; acid grassland, calcareous grassland, dwarf shrub heath, bogs, montane, unmanaged coniferous and broadleaved woodland. Critical Levels for air pollutants are not habitat specific and have been set to cover broad vegetation types (e.g. forest arable, semi-natural), often with critical values set for sensitive lichens and bryophytes. They have been derived from experiments and observation that show varied effects on vegetation including visible injury symptoms of exposure and species composition changes in semi-natural vegetation. Full details about this dataset can be found at https://doi.org/10.5285/95139a35-8880-4a17-86e4-5eb2f54073c4

This data resource provides plot-level plant occurrence data for the first five years (2015-2019) of the National Plant Monitoring Scheme (covering the UK, the Channel Islands, and the Isle of Man). Data consist of individual observations of plants, and other habitat characteristics, at the metre-scale; observations are accompanied by percentage cover information recorded according to the Domin frequency-abundance scale commonly used in plant community ecology. Other information provided includes the plot type (size, shape, according to the NPMS classification), the volunteer-recorded NPMS habitat, the date of sampling, and information regarding the spatial location of the plot. Information contained within the metadata file should allow users to reconstruct the sampling history (including gaps) of any plot that has been sampled within the NPMS scheme between 2015 and 2019. This work was supported by the Natural Environment Research Council award number NE/R016429/1 as part of the UK-SCAPE programme delivering National Capability. Full details about this dataset can be found at https://doi.org/10.5285/cdb8707c-eed7-4da7-8fa3-299c65124ef2