UK Terrestrial & Freshwater Habitats

An array of important wildlife habitats are recognised within UK terrestrial and freshwater environments. These span coastal, freshwater, lowland grassland, lowland heathland, lowland wetland, upland and woodland environments.

Some habitats in more agricultural and urban settings are also of importance for nature conservation, including arable field margins, hedgerows, orchards, and open mosaic habitats on previously-developed land.

Some UK habitat types and individual locations are particularly significant. In some cases the UK includes a major proportion of the European, World or biogeographical habitat range; some habitats are largely or exclusively contained within the UK. Amongst these are:

• Atlantic Salt Meadow
• Blanket Bog
• Caledonian Pine Forest
• Dry Heath
• Machair 
• Western Oakwoods

Many other habitats support a unique combination of species and structural characteristics.