Sparsely Vegetated (SPV)

Elements which have less than 30% cover of vegetation, excluding saxicolous, lichens and bryophytes. Percentage cover estimates should be made of the entire surface of the element regardless of slope.


Sea (SEA)

Sea below mean low water mark

Sea below mean low water mark.

Aquatic (AQU)

Aquatic (AQU):

Permanent water bodies, whether rivers, canals, lakes or ponds, with less than 30% vegetation cover, otherwise use the HERBACEOUS GHCs.

Ice / snow (ICE)

Ice/snow (ICE): Permanent ice/snow

Permanent ice/snow.

Rock (ROC)

: Continuous rock divided by cracks, crevices or gullies

Continuous rock divided by cracks, crevices or gullies.

Boulders (BOU)

•Boulders (BOU): Boulders over 0.20 m diameter

Boulders over 0.20 m diameter.

Stones (STO)

Stones (STO): Rocks and stones 0.05-20 m diameter

Rocks and stones 0.05-20 m diameter.

Gravel (GRV)

Gravel (GRV): Gravel 0.01-0.05 m diameter

Gravel 0.01-0.05 m diameter.

Sand (SAN)

Sand (SAN): Sand 0.001-0.01 m diameter

Sand 0.001-0.01 m diameter.


Earth (EAR):

Earth, mud, silt and bare soil below 0.001 m diameter