The England Peat Map is a set of map layers describing the extent, depth and condition of England’s peat resources. It was created primarily to support delivery of the 2021 England Peat Action Plan and is useful across a range of other policy and delivery activities.
The map layers were created using machine learning and deep learning modelling techniques, trained with pre-existing survey data collated from Defra organisations and other stakeholders, as well as new survey data collected by contractors and quality-assured by an in-house team. Predictor data used in the modelling process included national-scale satellite imagery, topographic LiDAR, geological and historic land-use data.
England Peat Map outputs comprise maps of peaty soil extent, depth and vegetation across England, surface features (grips, gullies and haggs) and bare peaty soil in the English uplands, together with additional map layers describing accuracy and confidence. Maps and publishable data can be viewed and downloaded shortly from the England Peat Map Portal and the Natural England Open Data Geoportal. The models and code which created these maps are also available on Natural England’s code repository. All outputs are published under the Open Government Licence.
Model metrics show the models perform well generally, and we describe limitations and constraints. The models are updatable with new survey data and future improvements are expected, particularly in lowland peatland areas. The annexes to the report include guidance and protocols for field survey and laboratory analysis, a list of over 1,500 peat survey datasets provided to the project, and technical details of modelling methods used. Also published is a joint report with UKCEH which details the installation of 53 peat motion cameras and the use of InSAR for monitoring peat surface motion and its relationship with peatland condition.
A User Guide is provided alongside this report giving summary information for end users about what the map layers mean, and how to access and use them.
These documents are also available on Defra’s Science Search.
For further information:
• England Peat Map Portal
• Natural England Open Data Geoportal
• Code and Models on GitHub