Introduction to UKHab: Edinburgh Field Course

The course is aimed at professional ecologists with some experience of habitat survey and assessment as well as professionals in related fields who need to build their understanding of habitat data. The course will consider the use of UKHab in a planning and development context.

The course introduces UKHab and describes approaches to desk-based and field mapping, the importance of pre-survey preparation and how to map features using polygons and lines. We will focus on woodland, grassland, scrub and urban habitats.

The course is not designed to cover habitat recording specifically for BNG Statutory Metric or habitat condition assessment, but elements of these will be explored.

What to bring:

• Suitable site clothing, waterproofs, sunhat and boots for being out on site for c.3 hours.
• A habitat recording digital application/mobile device, or a clipboard and pens for habitat recording in the field.
• Desirable: hand lens, botanical ID guides, phone with ID App.

Local authority ecologists, conservation officers within SNCOs or NGOs, graduates, ecological consultants, land managers

Some familiarity with UKHab or other habitat classifications is preferred but not essential.

• Understand the structure of the UKHab habitat classification.
• Identify and describe UKHab (Version 2.0) habitat features using Primary and Secondary Codes.
• Map area, linear and point habitat features in the field.
• Map habitats, including mosaics, that are frequently encountered in Scotland.
• Understand the use of UKHab Survey reports in ecological practice.