This document has been designed with accessibility in mind. If you require it in a different format, please contact Greenspace Information for Greater London CIC.

London’s Local Nature Recovery Strategy

Local Habitat Map

Instructions on how to use the online map on a computer screen

Contents

Definitions

• Geographic Information System (GIS): The Local Habitat Map is made using GIS software. GIS is a mapping software that combines maps and data to help analyse the data to see patterns and present the information visually. It is a digital toolbox for working with location-based information. It consists of integrated computer hardware and software that store, manage, analyse, edit, output, and visualise geographic data.
• Polygon: In GIS, a polygon is a shape that defines a geographic area. It can be considered as a boundary or outline that encloses an area, like a country, a building, or a park.
• Layer: In GIS, a layer is a fundamental building block of a map, representing a specific type of geographic data, such as roads, land use, or population density. It can be considered as a slice or stratum of geographic information, organised and displayed on a map. The are usually many polygons in each layer. Layers can be combined to create complex, informative maps.
• Metadata: In GIS, metadata is information about geographic data. This includes the data’s characteristics, creation details, and quality. It essentially acts as a document describing the data. This helps their discovery , management, and use.
• Licencing: Data licensing is a legal arrangement that specifies the terms under which a dataset can be used. It grants permission to use, share, modify, or distribute data, while also protecting the rights of the data owner. Essentially, it’s a contract outlining how data can be accessed and reused. This ensures both the user and the data creator understand their obligations.

Introduction

London’s Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS) Local Habitat Map (‘the map’) was created by Greenspace Information for Greater London CIC (GiGL), on behalf of the Greater London Authority (GLA). GiGL is the capital’s local environmental records centre. These instructions have been prepared to help users of the online map navigate and understand the different features of the map.

Figure 1: The initial welcome screen of London’s Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS) Local Habitat Map. It provides useful information about the different layers of the map, the consultation and further links. You need to read the information and confirm you understand it by clicking the tick box and then ‘OK’.

Figure 2: London’s LNRS Local Habitat Map. The online map’s features provide further information and options to explore the map. (Contains OS data © Crown Copyright and database right 2025. Ordnance Survey 100032216. Contains data from OS Zoomstack)

Left panel

This is the box on the left-hand side of the map with writing in. The left panel provides useful information about the map, including information about the different layers of the map. Read this to understand what the different layers of the map show. It might be useful to familiarise yourself with this information before moving to the next section of the instructions. This panel also includes links to important documents, such as the statement of biodiversity priorities and method statement.

Figure 3: The left panel with additional information about the map.

Closing the panel

You can use the arrow to close and open this panel.

Bookmarks

For easy navigation we have provided three bookmarks at the bottom left corner of the map. These are shown as small squares with pictures of maps. These allow a simple way to move between different layers on the map.

Figure 4: The three bookmark options at the bottom left corner of the map. (Contains OS data © Crown Copyright and database right 2025. Ordnance Survey 100032216. Contains data from OS Zoomstack).

Bookmark options

• By clicking on the left-hand bookmark, which says ‘potential measures’ you can view the potential measures layer. This is also the layer displayed by default on the map.
• By clicking on the middle bookmark, which says ‘APIB’ you can view the Areas of Particular Importance for Biodiversity (APIB).
• By clicking on the right-hand bookmark, which says ‘ACB’ you can view the Areas that Could Become of particular importance (ACBs) together.

Tip: The bookmarks help you move between layers faster, but when clicked, the map returns to the London-wide view. If you’re at a specific location and you want to turn layers on or off while viewing the same location, you need to use the buttons in the top right of the map. For more information see chapter 6.

Map

By clicking on the coloured areas on the map which is located at the centre, you can get additional information from pop-up boxes. This feature is currently active for the ‘Potential measure locations’ and ‘Landscape Areas’ only. The ‘Potential measure locations’ is the layer that is displayed by default when the map is opened. It is the one we are asking your feedback on.

Figure 5: The main area of the online map showing the potential measures locations layer. (Contains OS data © Crown Copyright and database right 2025. Ordnance Survey 100032216. GLA. Contains data from OS Zoomstack.)

Pop-up boxes

Figure 6: Example of a pop-up box for a potential measure location.

• Sometimes there is more than one relevant LNRS priority in an area, so polygons overlap. Arrows at the top left of the pop-up box let you see information for the different priorities suggested for this location.
• You can zoom in to the specific location by clicking on the looking glass (‘zoom to’ option).
• You can see a list of overlapping polygons by clicking on the list symbol (three small squares with a horizontal line to the right of each) at the top right corner.
• You can scroll down to see all the information in the box.
• Click X to close the box.
• Click on the circumflex (^) symbol to collapse the box so that just the title shows.
• The symbol of two boxes next to the title changes whether the pop-up box stays at the side of the map or near the site it relates to.

The information displayed is for the highlighted location. This highlighted location is shown in a brighter colour with a pale blue line around it.

Buttons

The buttons (small black squares with orange icons in) at the top right corner offer options for different views of the map and additional information.

Button options

Figure 7: The different buttons at the top right corner of the map.

1. The first button from the left (the letter ‘i’ in a circle) offers additional information. This includes information about the map’s different layers, metadata and licencing.
2. You can use the second button from the left (a magnifying glass) to search for an area by address, postcode or landmark.
3. You can use the middle button (a diamond shape with lines underneath, representing layers) to view different map layers (see Map layers section for more information).
4. The fourth button from the left (a funnel) offers the option of filtering the potential measure locations to see different LNRS priorities or scales of mapping (see Filter section for more information).
5. With the fifth button, on the far right (four squares) you can change how the background map looks.

Map layers

Figure 8: The features of the map layer button.

• Click on the tick boxes to see different layers. If you tick the box that layer will be ‘on’ (visible). If the box is unticked the layer will be ‘off’ (not visible).
• Click on the six dots on the left of each layer and drag to change which layer is shown on top. The layer on top will be most visible if it overlaps with other layers.
• Click on the three dots on the right of each layer to make the layer more or less see-through.
• Click on the list symbol (three small squares with a horizontal line to the right of each) to see what this layer looks like.
• Click X to close the box.
• Click on the circumflex symbol (^) to collapse the box so that just the title shows.

Filters

Figure 9: The different features and options of the Filter button.

• There are two options for filtering the potential measure locations. The first option is to filter by LNRS priority. The second option is to filter by the scale of mapping (sub-site, site or strategic). You can use the filters separately or combine them.
• From the drop-down menu select the different LNRS priorities or scale of mapping that you want to filter by. For the LNRS priorities you can select multiple options if needed. The selection will show on the map automatically after a few seconds.
• The bin at the bottom right of the window allows you to clear your selection and return to the default view.

Zoom

The plus, minus and house buttons at the bottom right corner provide options for zooming in and out.

Zoom options

• Use the plus symbol to zoom in.
• Use the minus symbol to zoom out.
• Use the home symbol to return to the default London-wide zoom level.

Other zoom options:

• With a mouse use the wheel.
• On a touch pad or phone/tablet screen use two fingers.
• From the search button at the top right, type a place of interest and click on it from the drop-down menu.
• From a pop-up box you can zoom in to a specific polygon.

Frequently Asked Questions

Follow the links provided below for further instructions.

Where can I find…?

• More information on the potential measures?
  • Answer: Click the ‘Statement of Biodiversity Priorities’ link provided in the left panel.
• More information on the priorities?
  • Answer: Click the ‘Statement of Biodiversity Priorities’ link provided in the left panel.
• Information about licencing and/or metadata?
  • Answer: Click on the first button (‘i’) at the top right.
• More information about priority species?
  • Answer: Click the ‘Priority species’ link provided in the left panel.
• More information about how the layers where created?
  • Answer: Click the ‘Method Statement’ link provided in the left panel.

How can I…?

• Turn different layers on and off (so they are visible or not visible)?
  • Answer: Use the map layers button at the top right.
• Change the transparency of each layer?
  • Answer: Use the map layers button at the top right.
• Filter the potential measures to see the priorities I want to focus on?
  • Answer: Use the filter button at the top right.
• Change the layer that is on top/ shown first?
  • Answer: Use the map layers button at the top right.