Northern Ireland Land Classification

<p style='background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255); color:rgb(76, 76, 76); font-family:&quot;Avenir Next W01&quot;, &quot;Avenir Next W00&quot;, &quot;Avenir Next&quot;, Avenir, &quot;Helvetica Neue&quot;, sans-serif; font-size:16px; font-style:normal; font-variant-caps:normal; font-variant-ligatures:normal; font-weight:400; letter-spacing:normal; margin:0px 0px 1.5rem; text-align:start; text-decoration-color:initial; text-decoration-style:initial; text-indent:0px; text-transform:none; word-spacing:0px;'><span style='font-family:inherit;'>The NI Land classification was developed using the Merlewood method of multivariate land classification.&nbsp; This involved selecting a sample of 700 1km grid squares, representing 5% of NI land area.&nbsp;&nbsp;For each of these squares, attributes on climate, elevation &amp; topography, vegetation, hydrology, settlement, geology, and soils were recorded from maps. Using TWINSPAN, this data was used to produce a land classification hierarchy, yielding 23 land classes for N.Ireland.&nbsp;&nbsp;This was then used to classify all remaining 1km grid squares in N. Ireland. In total, 14,377 1km grid squares were assigned to one of the 23 land classes.</span></p><p style='background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255); color:rgb(76, 76, 76); font-family:&quot;Avenir Next W01&quot;, &quot;Avenir Next W00&quot;, &quot;Avenir Next&quot;, Avenir, &quot;Helvetica Neue&quot;, sans-serif; font-size:16px; font-style:normal; font-variant-caps:normal; font-variant-ligatures:normal; font-weight:400; letter-spacing:normal; margin:0px 0px 1.5rem; text-align:start; text-decoration-color:initial; text-decoration-style:initial; text-indent:0px; text-transform:none; word-spacing:0px;'>For detailed information on the methodology and descriptions of each of the land classes see,&nbsp;<a style='color:rgb(0, 97, 155); font-family:inherit; text-decoration-line:none;' target='_blank' href='https://www.daera-ni.gov.uk/sites/default/files/publications/daera/Land%20Classification%20report%20edited.pdf' rel='nofollow ugc noopener noreferrer'>Land Classification report edited.pdf</a></p><p style='background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255); color:rgb(76, 76, 76); font-family:&quot;Avenir Next W01&quot;, &quot;Avenir Next W00&quot;, &quot;Avenir Next&quot;, Avenir, &quot;Helvetica Neue&quot;, sans-serif; font-size:16px; font-style:normal; font-variant-caps:normal; font-variant-ligatures:normal; font-weight:400; letter-spacing:normal; margin:0px 0px 1.5rem; text-align:start; text-decoration-color:initial; text-decoration-style:initial; text-indent:0px; text-transform:none; word-spacing:0px;'>A brief description of the Land Classification Groups identified in the dataset are listed below, for more detail see the report above.&nbsp;<br />&nbsp;</p><figure style='width:1327pt;'><figure><figure><table style='background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255); border-collapse:collapse; border-spacing:0px; border:1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); color:rgb(76, 76, 76); font-family:&quot;Avenir Next W01&quot;, &quot;Avenir Next W00&quot;, &quot;Avenir Next&quot;, Avenir, &quot;Helvetica Neue&quot;, sans-serif; font-size:0.875rem; font-style:normal; font-variant-caps:normal; font-variant-ligatures:normal; font-weight:400; letter-spacing:normal; margin-bottom:1.5rem; text-align:start; text-decoration-color:initial; text-decoration-style:initial; text-transform:none; word-spacing:0px;' width='1770' cellpadding='0' cellspacing='0' border='0'><tbody><tr style='border-bottom:1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); height:14.4pt;' height='19'><td style='border-left:1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); border-right:1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); height:14.4pt; padding:0.5rem; width:48pt;' height='19' width='64'><strong>Group</strong></td><td style='border-left-style:none; border-right:1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); padding:0.5rem; width:110pt;' width='147'><strong>Land Class Group</strong></td><td style='border-left-style:none; border-right:1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); padding:0.5rem; width:167pt;' width='223'><strong>Geographic Location</strong></td><td style='border-left-style:none; border-right:1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); padding:0.5rem; width:128pt;' width='170'><strong>Climate</strong></td><td style='border-left-style:none; border-right:1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); padding:0.5rem; width:217pt;' width='290'><strong>Elevation, topography and hydrology</strong></td><td style='border-left-style:none; border-right:1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); padding:0.5rem; width:361pt;' width='482'><strong>Settlement</strong></td><td style='border-left-style:none; border-right:1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); padding:0.5rem; width:186pt;' width='248'><strong>Geology</strong></td><td style='border-left-style:none; border-right:1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); padding:0.5rem; width:110pt;' width='146'><strong>Soils</strong></td></tr><tr style='border-bottom:1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); height:129.6pt;' height='173'><td style='border-left:1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); border-right:1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); border-top-style:none; height:129.6pt; padding:0.5rem;' height='173'>1</td><td style='border-left-style:none; border-right:1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); border-top-style:none; padding:0.5rem;'>1, 2, 3, 4</td><td style='border-left-style:none; border-right:1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); border-top-style:none; padding:0.5rem; width:167pt;' width='223'>Mainly South-East, Co. Armagh and Co. Down.<br />Also present in Co. Fermanagh between Upper Lough Erne and Lough Macnean.<br />Land class 1 is coastal, Strangford Lough and the Co. Down coast.</td><td style='border-left-style:none; border-right:1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); border-top-style:none; padding:0.5rem; width:128pt;' width='170'>Sleet/snow, low.<br />January temperature, moderate – high.<br />July temperature, moderate – high.</td><td style='border-left-style:none; border-right:1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); border-top-style:none; padding:0.5rem; width:217pt;' width='290'>Lowland.<br />Elevation 0-500 ft (0-152 m).<br />Flat, undulating and drumlin landscape.<br />River and stream network.<br />Source of river/stream.</td><td style='border-left-style:none; border-right:1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); border-top-style:none; padding:0.5rem; width:361pt;' width='482'>Developed road network (all types).<br />Urban land.<br />Intermediate number of buildings.</td><td style='border-left-style:none; border-right:1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); border-top-style:none; padding:0.5rem; width:186pt;' width='248'>Ordovician/Silurian shales and greywackes.<br />Basic igneous.<br />Mixed limestone, shale and sandstone.<br />Sandstones and conglomerates.&nbsp;</td><td style='border-left-style:none; border-right:1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); border-top-style:none; padding:0.5rem; width:110pt;' width='146'>Acid brown earths.<br />Gleys</td></tr><tr style='border-bottom:1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); height:115.2pt;' height='154'><td style='border-left:1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); border-right:1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); border-top-style:none; height:115.2pt; padding:0.5rem;' height='154'>2</td><td style='border-left-style:none; border-right:1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); border-top-style:none; padding:0.5rem;'>5</td><td style='border-left-style:none; border-right:1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); border-top-style:none; padding:0.5rem; width:167pt;' width='223'>Mainly South-West, Co. Fermanagh.<br />Lakeland, in particular Lough Erne but also Lough Neagh.<br />North Co. Derry coast, in particular Magilligan.<br />River Foyle.</td><td style='border-left-style:none; border-right:1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); border-top-style:none; padding:0.5rem; width:128pt;' width='170'>Sleet/snow, low – moderate.<br />January temperature, moderate – high.<br />July temperature, low – moderate.</td><td style='border-left-style:none; border-right:1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); border-top-style:none; padding:0.5rem; width:217pt;' width='290'>Lowland.<br />Elevation, 0-500 ft (0 – 152 m).<br />Flat undulating landscape.<br />Stream and river network.<br />Inland water bodies.</td><td style='border-left-style:none; border-right:1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); border-top-style:none; padding:0.5rem; width:361pt;' width='482'>Developed road network (all types).<br />Moderately low number of buildings.</td><td style='border-left-style:none; border-right:1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); border-top-style:none; padding:0.5rem; width:186pt;' width='248'>Mixed limestone, shale and sandstone.<br />Limestones (other than Precambrian).<br />Sandstones and conglomerates.</td><td style='border-left-style:none; border-right:1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); border-top-style:none; padding:0.5rem; width:110pt;' width='146'>Gleys.<br />Brown/grey podzolics.</td></tr><tr style='border-bottom:1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); height:201.6pt;' height='269'><td style='border-left:1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); border-right:1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); border-top-style:none; height:201.6pt; padding:0.5rem;' height='269'>3</td><td style='border-left-style:none; border-right:1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); border-top-style:none; padding:0.5rem;'>6,7,8&nbsp;</td><td style='border-left-style:none; border-right:1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); border-top-style:none; padding:0.5rem; width:167pt;' width='223'>Adjacent to west side of Antrim plateau and Belfast Hills.<br />West of Mourne Mountains and Slieve Croob.<br />Adjacent of Sperrins and North Derry Mountains.<br />Lowland, Co. Tyrone and east Co. Fermanagh.<br />Land class 6 is more characteristic of the South-West, land class 7 the South and land class 8 the North.&nbsp;</td><td style='border-left-style:none; border-right:1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); border-top-style:none; padding:0.5rem; width:128pt;' width='170'>Sleet/snow, moderate – high.<br />January temperature, low – moderate.<br />July temperature, low – moderate.</td><td style='border-left-style:none; border-right:1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); border-top-style:none; padding:0.5rem; width:217pt;' width='290'>Lowland.<br />Elevation, 200-500 ft (62-152 m).<br />Flat and undulating landscape and drumlin bottoms.<br />River and stream network.<br />Source of river/stream.&nbsp;</td><td style='border-left-style:none; border-right:1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); border-top-style:none; padding:0.5rem; width:361pt;' width='482'>Developed road network (all types).<br />Intermediate number of buildings.&nbsp;</td><td style='border-left-style:none; border-right:1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); border-top-style:none; padding:0.5rem; width:186pt;' width='248'>Sandstones and conglomerates.<br />Basic igneous (Antrim lavas).<br />Mixed limestone, shale and sandstone.</td><td style='border-left-style:none; border-right:1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); border-top-style:none; padding:0.5rem; width:110pt;' width='146'>Gleys<br />Acid brown earths.<br />Brown/grey brown podzolics.</td></tr><tr style='border-bottom:1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); height:144pt;' height='192'><td style='border-left:1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); border-right:1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); border-top-style:none; height:144pt; padding:0.5rem;' height='192'>4</td><td style='border-left-style:none; border-right:1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); border-top-style:none; padding:0.5rem;'>9, 10, 11, 12</td><td style='border-left-style:none; border-right:1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); border-top-style:none; padding:0.5rem; width:167pt;' width='223'><span style='font-family:inherit;'>Lowlands between Lough Neagh and the north coast and surrounding Lough Neagh. Land classes 9 and 10 largely surround Lough Neagh.</span><br /><span style='font-family:inherit;'>Land classes 11 and 12 are characteristic of land between Lough Neagh and the north coast.</span></td><td style='border-left-style:none; border-right:1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); border-top-style:none; padding:0.5rem; width:128pt;' width='170'>Sleet/snow, moderate.<br />January temperature, low - moderate. July temperature, low - high.</td><td style='border-left-style:none; border-right:1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); border-top-style:none; padding:0.5rem; width:217pt;' width='290'>Lowland.<br />Elevation 0-500 ft (0-152 m).<br />Flat and undulating landscape.<br />River and stream network.</td><td style='border-left-style:none; border-right:1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); border-top-style:none; padding:0.5rem; width:361pt;' width='482'>Developed road network (all types). Urban land.<br />Intermediate number of buildings.</td><td style='border-left-style:none; border-right:1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); border-top-style:none; padding:0.5rem;'>Basic igneous (Antrim lavas).</td><td style='border-left-style:none; border-right:1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); border-top-style:none; padding:0.5rem; width:110pt;' width='146'>Acid brown earths.<br />Gleys.<br />Blanket peat (basin and low level).</td></tr><tr style='border-bottom:1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); height:273.6pt;' height='365'><td style='border-left:1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); border-right:1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); border-top-style:none; height:273.6pt; padding:0.5rem;' height='365'>5</td><td style='border-left-style:none; border-right:1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); border-top-style:none; padding:0.5rem;'>13, 14, 15, 16</td><td style='border-left-style:none; border-right:1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); border-top-style:none; padding:0.5rem; width:167pt;' width='223'><span style='font-family:inherit;'>Widely dispersed but particularly common at lowland/upland margin.</span><br /><span style='font-family:inherit;'>Land class 13 is characteristic west of the Mourne Mountains and Slieve Croob in Co.</span><br /><span style='font-family:inherit;'>Down. It is also present adjacent to the Sperrin Mountains.</span><br /><span style='font-family:inherit;'>Land class 14 is widely dispersed.</span><br /><span style='font-family:inherit;'>Land class 15 has a predominantly south-west distribution.</span><br /><span style='font-family:inherit;'>Land class 16 is associated with the coast, river valleys and glens in the North and North-East.</span></td><td style='border-left-style:none; border-right:1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); border-top-style:none; padding:0.5rem; width:128pt;' width='170'>Sleet/snow, low - moderate.<br />January temperature, moderate - high. July temperature, low - moderate.</td><td style='border-left-style:none; border-right:1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); border-top-style:none; padding:0.5rem; width:217pt;' width='290'>Lowland.<br />Elevation, 0-500 ft (0-152m). Sloping and drumlin landscape. River and stream network.</td><td style='border-left-style:none; border-right:1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); border-top-style:none; padding:0.5rem; width:361pt;' width='482'>Developed road network (all types). Urban land.<br />Intermediate number of buildings.</td><td style='border-left-style:none; border-right:1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); border-top-style:none; padding:0.5rem; width:186pt;' width='248'>Basic igneous (Antrim lavas). Sandstones and conglomerates. Mixed limestone, shale and sandstone. Precambrian limestones.<br />Basic igneous.<br />Shales and mudstone (including coal measures). Ordovician/Silurian, shales and greywackes.</td><td style='border-left-style:none; border-right:1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); border-top-style:none; padding:0.5rem; width:110pt;' width='146'>Gleys.<br />Acid brown earths. Brown/grey brown podzolics.</td></tr><tr style='border-bottom:1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); height:273.6pt;' height='365'><td style='border-left:1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); border-right:1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); border-top-style:none; height:273.6pt; padding:0.5rem;' height='365'>6</td><td style='border-left-style:none; border-right:1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); border-top-style:none; padding:0.5rem;'>17, 18, 19</td><td style='border-left-style:none; border-right:1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); border-top-style:none; padding:0.5rem; width:167pt;' width='223'><span style='font-family:inherit;'>Mourne Mountains and Slieve Croob. South Armagh.</span><br /><span style='font-family:inherit;'>Centi-al Co. Tyrone and east Co. Fermanagh. Sperrin Mountains.</span><br /><span style='font-family:inherit;'>Antrim plateau.</span><br /><span style='font-family:inherit;'>Land class 17 is particularly common in the South-East (Mourne Mountains, Slieve Croob and south Armagh).</span><br /><span style='font-family:inherit;'>Land class 18 is dispersed throughout but is centred on the south-west of the Antrim Hills.</span><br /><span style='font-family:inherit;'>Land class 19 is mainly located in Co. Tyrone and east Co. Fermanagh.</span></td><td style='border-left-style:none; border-right:1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); border-top-style:none; padding:0.5rem; width:128pt;' width='170'>Sleet/snow, low - high.<br />January temperature, low - moderate. July temperature, moderate - high.</td><td style='border-left-style:none; border-right:1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); border-top-style:none; padding:0.5rem; width:217pt;' width='290'>Upland.<br />Elevation, 500-800 ft (153-244 m). Sloping and hilly landscape.<br />Stream network.<br />Source of river/stream.</td><td style='border-left-style:none; border-right:1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); border-top-style:none; padding:0.5rem;'>Secondary, tertiary and minor road network. Moderate number of buildings.</td><td style='border-left-style:none; border-right:1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); border-top-style:none; padding:0.5rem; width:186pt;' width='248'>Basic igneous.<br />Granite, gneiss.<br />Basic igneous (Antrim lavas). Ordovician/Silurian, shales and greywackes. Sandstones and conglomerates.</td><td style='border-left-style:none; border-right:1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); border-top-style:none; padding:0.5rem; width:110pt;' width='146'>Acid brown earths.<br />Gleys.<br />Brown/grey brown podzolics. Peaty podzols.</td></tr><tr style='border-bottom:1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); height:172.8pt;' height='230'><td style='border-left:1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); border-right:1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); border-top-style:none; height:172.8pt; padding:0.5rem;' height='230'>7</td><td style='border-left-style:none; border-right:1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); border-top-style:none; padding:0.5rem;'>20, 21</td><td style='border-left-style:none; border-right:1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); border-top-style:none; padding:0.5rem; width:167pt;' width='223'><span style='font-family:inherit;'>Antrim plateau, Belfast Hills.</span><br /><span style='font-family:inherit;'>North De1'ry Hills, Sperrin Mountains.</span><br /><span style='font-family:inherit;'>Mountain areas in Co. Fermanagh and Co. Tyrone.</span><br /><span style='font-family:inherit;'>Land class 20 is more characteristic than land class 21 in the South-West (Co. Fermanagh, Co. Tyrone).</span></td><td style='border-left-style:none; border-right:1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); border-top-style:none; padding:0.5rem; width:128pt;' width='170'>Sleet/snow, moderate - high.<br />January temperature, moderate - high. July temperature, low - moderate.</td><td style='border-left-style:none; border-right:1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); border-top-style:none; padding:0.5rem; width:217pt;' width='290'>Upland/mountains.<br />Elevation 500-800 ft (153-244 m). Sloping and upland plateau landscape. Stream network.<br />Source of river/stream.</td><td style='border-left-style:none; border-right:1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); border-top-style:none; padding:0.5rem;'>Secondary, tertiary and minor road network. Low number of buildings.</td><td style='border-left-style:none; border-right:1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); border-top-style:none; padding:0.5rem; width:186pt;' width='248'>Schists.<br />Basic igneous (Antrim Lavas).<br />Mixed limestone, shale and sandstone. Precambrian, undifferentiated.<br />Sandstones and conglomerates. Chalk and related rock.<br />Precambrian limestones.</td><td style='border-left-style:none; border-right:1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); border-top-style:none; padding:0.5rem; width:110pt;' width='146'>Blanket peat (basalt and high level). Peaty gleys.<br />Gleys.<br />Brown/grey brown podzolics.</td></tr><tr style='border-bottom-style:none; height:144pt;' height='192'><td style='border-left:1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); border-right:1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); border-top-style:none; height:144pt; padding:0.5rem;' height='192'>8</td><td style='border-left-style:none; border-right:1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); border-top-style:none; padding:0.5rem;'>22, 23</td><td style='border-left-style:none; border-right:1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); border-top-style:none; padding:0.5rem; width:167pt;' width='223'><span style='font-family:inherit;'>Mountain areas throughout.</span><br /><span style='font-family:inherit;'>Land class 22 is more characteristic in the South-West (Co. Fermanagh, Co. Tyrone) than land class 23.</span><br /><span style='font-family:inherit;'>Land class 23 is more common than land class 22 in the Mourne Mountains.</span></td><td style='border-left-style:none; border-right:1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); border-top-style:none; padding:0.5rem; width:128pt;' width='170'>Sleet/snow, low - high.<br />January temperature, moderate - high. July temperature, low - moderate.</td><td style='border-left-style:none; border-right:1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); border-top-style:none; padding:0.5rem; width:217pt;' width='290'>Mountains.<br />Elevation &gt; 800 ft (&gt; 244 m).<br />Sloping and mountain plateau landscape. Stream network.<br />Source of river/stream.</td><td style='border-left-style:none; border-right:1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); border-top-style:none; padding:0.5rem; width:361pt;' width='482'>Minor road network.<br />Few buildings.</td><td style='border-left-style:none; border-right:1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); border-top-style:none; padding:0.5rem; width:186pt;' width='248'>Schists.<br />Basic igneous (Antrim Lavas).<br />Mixed limestone, shale and sandstone. Basic igneous.<br />Granite gneiss.</td><td style='border-left-style:none; border-right:1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); border-top-style:none; padding:0.5rem; width:110pt;' width='146'>Blanket peat (basalt and high level). Peaty gleys.<br />Peaty podzols.<br />Gleys.</td></tr></tbody></table></figure></figure></figure>

Tags: land-classification, niea, northern-ireland
Organization: Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs