Whether you are a developer, an engineer, architect, homeowner or someone interested in protecting the natural world the Habitat Matters has something for you. You can utilise educational content, view current records, find inspiration, record new sites, habitats and biodiversity all in one place.
Resources
Pick from a range of webinars and podcasts from our collective network of partners who are all leaders in their respective fields. Providing a broad spectrum of views on subjects pertaining to the protection of biodiversity in the built environment and some of the leading ideologies and technologies to ensure our better outcomes for nature and our mental and physical health.
Search habitats and species records
Learn more about habitats and biodiversity across the UK by browsing through existing records from the UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, new records added to the Habitat Matters website and the Biological Records Centre.
Resources pages have been set for to help you on your educational journey to identify a diverse range of species and assist in the design of urban habitats. These external links will take you leading plants and species observational bodies from across the UK along with design guidance.
Replicating your site
Add your own site and replicate all the habitats and features in the physical environment using categories from Natural England’s Biodiversity Matrix 3.0 and small sites matrix. Collate built habitat & ecological data about the sites management and mitigation solutions for the protection of biodiversity. All of this helps inform others of best practice.
Connect physical to digital
Every site, habitat or feature added creates a unique downloadable QR codes. When displayed in the physical habitat it connects to the digital asset created. This helps the user to view built habitat information, provide valuable feedback and enable the collection of observational data.
Using the Habitat Matters tool will help in satisfying good legibility for SuDS amenity in planning applications whilst also supporting community environmental learning. It also helps projects align with Biodiversity Net Gain Good practice principals for development for inclusive and equitable and measurable Net Gain though long term engagement and monitoring. This engagement also contribute towards positive mental and physical health.
Add Biodiversity records
Whether scanning a QR code on a site or visiting the habitat matters website, valuable biodiversity observational data can be added, helping continue the monitoring of animal and plant species in the UK and contributing to national record keeping through the Biological Records Centre.
Submit Habitat feedback
Help asset owners, designers, approval bodies and maintenance teams to make more informed decisions about the future management and design of urban habitat assets by providing valuable feedback though the rating structure and comments section attributed to each site, habitat and feature added. It is feedback that ultimately can make a positive difference.
Built environment assets have to demonstrate continued societal value. Comments and ratings help quantify future designs from feasibility through to construction and the continued management of urban habitats for the benefit of nature and humans.