The Isle of Wight Council is in the process of developing a Local Environmental Record Centre in partnership with other organisations. We are able to provide details of statutory and non-statutory nature conservation sites (SINCs), and key habitat types and some information regarding species.

Basic, background information can be found in the library. The Habitat Action Plans and Species Action Plans give useful contextual information and the Audit and Assessment of Biodiversity contains a full list of nationally and locally important species.

A data search can be made for an area specified by the enquirer. This can be either a radius from a defined point (supplied as a six figure national grid reference or point marked on a map) or it can be for a specified site/area which must be clearly defined on a map. Due to the nature of many of the records, we always search by 1km squares.

On request, we can report on the following within the search area:

Non-statutory sites: Sites of Importance for Nature Conservation or SINCs, Ancient Woodland Inventory Sites.
Statutory sites: Sites of Special Scientific Interest, Special Protection Areas, Special Areas of Conservation, National Nature Reserves, Local Nature Reserves.

Sites are supplied as a GIS computer printed map showing the boundaries of these sites, within the area of search.  SINCs will be accompanied by a summary sheet comprising the SINC name, area and description of the features of interest of the SINC.

Notable Species, ie. Protected species, national priority species and county important species, within a defined time period.

Notable species lists merely reflect the information held on databases to which we have access and do not represent a comprehensive list of notable species for the search area. Because some of the species data is supplied by volunteers, we may not be able to disclose it to a third party.  In addition, information on sensitive species may not be released. 

Habitat and Land Use mapping 
A GIS layer can be provided to show the distribution of habitat types within a site and is supplied as a GIS computer printed map.

Whilst the information is itself free, we reserve the right to charge a cost to cover the time it takes staff to extract and supply data to the enquirer.  This is not a charge for the data. In addition, for electronic data and copies of site survey reports, a charge will be made which contributes to the staff time required to collect and maintain the data. 

Quotations are supplied for defined searches.

For further information contact lrc@iow.gov.uk