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The NI Land classification was developed using the Merlewood method of multivariate land classification. This involved selecting a sample of 700 1km grid squares, representing 5% of NI land area. For each of these squares, attributes on climate, elevation & topography, vegetation, hydrology, settlement, geology, and soils were recorded from maps. Using TWINSPAN, this data was used to produce a land classification hierarchy, yielding 23 land classes for N.Ireland. This was then used to classify all remaining 1km grid squares in N. Ireland. In total, 14,377 1km grid squares were assigned to one of the 23 land classes.

For detailed information on the methodology and descriptions of each of the land classes see, Land Classification report edited.pdf

A brief description of the Land Classification Groups identified in the dataset are listed below, for more detail see the report above.

Group	Land Class Group	Geographic Location	Climate	Elevation, topography and hydrology	Settlement	Geology	Soils
1	1, 2, 3, 4	Mainly South-East, Co. Armagh and Co. Down. Also present in Co. Fermanagh between Upper Lough Erne and Lough Macnean. Land class 1 is coastal, Strangford Lough and the Co. Down coast.	Sleet/snow, low. January temperature, moderate – high. July temperature, moderate – high.	Lowland. Elevation 0-500 ft (0-152 m). Flat, undulating and drumlin landscape. River and stream network. Source of river/stream.	Developed road network (all types). Urban land. Intermediate number of buildings.	Ordovician/Silurian shales and greywackes. Basic igneous. Mixed limestone, shale and sandstone. Sandstones and conglomerates.	Acid brown earths. Gleys
2	5	Mainly South-West, Co. Fermanagh. Lakeland, in particular Lough Erne but also Lough Neagh. North Co. Derry coast, in particular Magilligan. River Foyle.	Sleet/snow, low – moderate. January temperature, moderate – high. July temperature, low – moderate.	Lowland. Elevation, 0-500 ft (0 – 152 m). Flat undulating landscape. Stream and river network. Inland water bodies.	Developed road network (all types). Moderately low number of buildings.	Mixed limestone, shale and sandstone. Limestones (other than Precambrian). Sandstones and conglomerates.	Gleys. Brown/grey podzolics.
3	6,7,8	Adjacent to west side of Antrim plateau and Belfast Hills. West of Mourne Mountains and Slieve Croob. Adjacent of Sperrins and North Derry Mountains. Lowland, Co. Tyrone and east Co. Fermanagh. Land class 6 is more characteristic of the South-West, land class 7 the South and land class 8 the North.	Sleet/snow, moderate – high. January temperature, low – moderate. July temperature, low – moderate.	Lowland. Elevation, 200-500 ft (62-152 m). Flat and undulating landscape and drumlin bottoms. River and stream network. Source of river/stream.	Developed road network (all types). Intermediate number of buildings.	Sandstones and conglomerates. Basic igneous (Antrim lavas). Mixed limestone, shale and sandstone.	Gleys Acid brown earths. Brown/grey brown podzolics.
4	9, 10, 11, 12	Lowlands between Lough Neagh and the north coast and surrounding Lough Neagh. Land classes 9 and 10 largely surround Lough Neagh. Land classes 11 and 12 are characteristic of land between Lough Neagh and the north coast.	Sleet/snow, moderate. January temperature, low - moderate. July temperature, low - high.	Lowland. Elevation 0-500 ft (0-152 m). Flat and undulating landscape. River and stream network.	Developed road network (all types). Urban land. Intermediate number of buildings.	Basic igneous (Antrim lavas).	Acid brown earths. Gleys. Blanket peat (basin and low level).
5	13, 14, 15, 16	Widely dispersed but particularly common at lowland/upland margin. Land class 13 is characteristic west of the Mourne Mountains and Slieve Croob in Co. Down. It is also present adjacent to the Sperrin Mountains. Land class 14 is widely dispersed. Land class 15 has a predominantly south-west distribution. Land class 16 is associated with the coast, river valleys and glens in the North and North-East.	Sleet/snow, low - moderate. January temperature, moderate - high. July temperature, low - moderate.	Lowland. Elevation, 0-500 ft (0-152m). Sloping and drumlin landscape. River and stream network.	Developed road network (all types). Urban land. Intermediate number of buildings.	Basic igneous (Antrim lavas). Sandstones and conglomerates. Mixed limestone, shale and sandstone. Precambrian limestones. Basic igneous. Shales and mudstone (including coal measures). Ordovician/Silurian, shales and greywackes.	Gleys. Acid brown earths. Brown/grey brown podzolics.
6	17, 18, 19	Mourne Mountains and Slieve Croob. South Armagh. Centi-al Co. Tyrone and east Co. Fermanagh. Sperrin Mountains. Antrim plateau. Land class 17 is particularly common in the South-East (Mourne Mountains, Slieve Croob and south Armagh). Land class 18 is dispersed throughout but is centred on the south-west of the Antrim Hills. Land class 19 is mainly located in Co. Tyrone and east Co. Fermanagh.	Sleet/snow, low - high. January temperature, low - moderate. July temperature, moderate - high.	Upland. Elevation, 500-800 ft (153-244 m). Sloping and hilly landscape. Stream network. Source of river/stream.	Secondary, tertiary and minor road network. Moderate number of buildings.	Basic igneous. Granite, gneiss. Basic igneous (Antrim lavas). Ordovician/Silurian, shales and greywackes. Sandstones and conglomerates.	Acid brown earths. Gleys. Brown/grey brown podzolics. Peaty podzols.
7	20, 21	Antrim plateau, Belfast Hills. North De1'ry Hills, Sperrin Mountains. Mountain areas in Co. Fermanagh and Co. Tyrone. Land class 20 is more characteristic than land class 21 in the South-West (Co. Fermanagh, Co. Tyrone).	Sleet/snow, moderate - high. January temperature, moderate - high. July temperature, low - moderate.	Upland/mountains. Elevation 500-800 ft (153-244 m). Sloping and upland plateau landscape. Stream network. Source of river/stream.	Secondary, tertiary and minor road network. Low number of buildings.	Schists. Basic igneous (Antrim Lavas). Mixed limestone, shale and sandstone. Precambrian, undifferentiated. Sandstones and conglomerates. Chalk and related rock. Precambrian limestones.	Blanket peat (basalt and high level). Peaty gleys. Gleys. Brown/grey brown podzolics.
8	22, 23	Mountain areas throughout. Land class 22 is more characteristic in the South-West (Co. Fermanagh, Co. Tyrone) than land class 23. Land class 23 is more common than land class 22 in the Mourne Mountains.	Sleet/snow, low - high. January temperature, moderate - high. July temperature, low - moderate.	Mountains. Elevation > 800 ft (> 244 m). Sloping and mountain plateau landscape. Stream network. Source of river/stream.	Minor road network. Few buildings.	Schists. Basic igneous (Antrim Lavas). Mixed limestone, shale and sandstone. Basic igneous. Granite gneiss.	Blanket peat (basalt and high level). Peaty gleys. Peaty podzols. Gleys.

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