Case Study: Moors for the Future Partnership achieves accurate land cover mapping to restore and safeguard South Pennine moorland with Ordnance Survey

Moors for the Future Partnership - Customer Case Study

Moors for the Future Partnership (MFFP) needed a detailed, up-to-date view of vegetation across the 650 km² South Pennine Moors to reverse centuries of peat degradation, wildfire damage and species loss and to plan peatland restoration. To do this they worked with OS, using OS MasterMap Topography Layer and 1:25 000 Scale Colour Raster data to identify what was growing where and to inform restoration priorities.

OS data were combined with satellite and aerial imagery, consultant analysis and field surveys (233 ground-truthed sites) to produce a Land Cover Map that masks out manmade features and gives a baseline for monitoring and targeting work. The OS-produced maps are now used to plan and publicise restoration, identify monitoring sites, target future works and support data sharing — helping MFFP move toward a wetter, more resilient habitat with reduced wildfire and downstream flood risk.

Moors for the Future Partnership

Jon Walker

Science Programme Manager