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What habitat you would like for Christmas. Maybe Caledonian forest, for a peaceful walk through the trees, or would you like some sand dunes? Perhaps you would choose Machair, a wind-swept saltmarsh or a good bit of blanket bog? We asked the Habitat Map of Scotland project board members to tell us what habitat they would like to unwrap at Christmas. Is your favourite here? 

In our third blog of the Meet our partners series, we hear from Marine Scotland about the way their websites contribute the marine dimension to the Scotland's environment web collaboration.

The NBN Atlas Scotland is a free online tool that educates and informs people about Scotland’s natural world. It helps to improve biodiversity knowledge, opens up research possibilities and is changing the way environmental management is carried out, not only in Scotland, but across the UK.

Today is World Soil Day. So it seems fitting that we bring you a blog all about the Scotland's soils website, which is one of the websites that forms the 'part of Scotland's environment' network. To tell us more about the website, we asked Karen Dobbie, Principal Soil Scientist at SEPA and part of the team responsible for the Scotland’s soils website. This is what she had to say.

Scotland's environment web aims to be the trusted gateway to everything you want to know about Scotland's environment; bringing together environmental information and data so that it is easy to search, discover, view, analyse and interpret.

We want to help extend the reach and influence of the data and information published by our partners and help users get to the data they need, when they need it. One of the ways we're doing this is through the 'part of' family of websites. Here we explain more about what this means.

This is the last of our Mapvember blogs. We hope during the series we've provided you with a deeper insight into the effort that goes on behind the scenes to provide you with access to a wide range of environmental spatial data on our new map tool. We finish the month off with a profile of the publication of spatial data by our all-important partners – as without their data services, there would be no Scotland’s environment map.

During Mapvember, we've been introducing you to the team behind the Scotland's environment map and spatial data. In this post we catch-up with SEPA GIS Developer Bruce Smith, and find out about the role he has played in developing our map.

In our next instalment of our Mapvember blog series, we’re continuing to get to know the people who work behind the scenes to develop and maintain the Scotland’s environment mapping tools and are responsible for our spatial data. In this post we meet Olivia Gill, GIS developer, and Linda Gallagher, Technical Author.

As users, we interact with maps and spatial data on daily basis. But do we give much thought to how these applications are developed? How does all of this data reach the map applications that we use? And who builds them?

Today is international GIS Day (15 November) - a day to learn more about geography and the uses of geographic information systems (GIS). And what better day to launch our next series of the Scotland's environment blog, which is all about our new map and spatial data. This November we bring you Mapvember

Scotland’s peatland provides us with some spectacular scenery. They are places where soils meet with water to create unique habitats that have been enduring for millennia. These bogs also play an essential role in our lives. But having been exposed to too many pressures they are now in need of more attention if we want to secure their long term future.

In our second blog of the series about our partners, we hear from Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) about why they are excited about being part of the Scotland's environment web collaboration.

As part of our spotlight on Biodiversity, our blog recently featured two new biodiversity information and data resources that are now available on Scotland’s environment website – Habitat Map of Scotland (HabMoS) and Ecosystem Health Indicators. But we have much more information and data to help your understanding of Scotland’s valuable biodiversity and influence new actions for its care and restoration.

Many people don't give much thought to what happens to their waste once their bins have been collected. So they don't realise that the separately collected recyclable materials are put through a series of sorting processes, using a mix of machinery and hand separation (that's real people working at nearby facilities to sorting through your waste). We asked Naomi Ross, from the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA)'s Waste Unit, to explain more about what's involved, the cycle of our waste and how we can help improve the quality of recycled materials.

Providing a sound evidence base to inform policy development and decisions, and making data and information more accessible to you - our users - is at the core of what Scotland's environment web is all about. So I'm sure you'll understand why we're pleased to be able to tell you about two new additions to our website - the Habitat Map of Scotland, a great new composite map tool, pulling together habitat and land use data to help support policy and management decisions, and the Ecosystem health indicators section, providing valuable information on the status of our ecosystems.

This is the first in series of blogs about our all-important partners. Scotland’s environment web is the product of an innovative partnership between some of Scotland’s leading environmental organisations. But who are they? Why are they part of the Scotland’s environment collaboration? And what do they get out of it?

This first blog features the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA), the organisation responsible for managing, maintaining and further developing Scotland’s environment web.

A spotlight on Scotland’s Biodiversity is the title of the two-day conference at the Royal Society of Edinburgh running yesterday and today – and that’s what we’ll be doing in our blog over the coming month; shining a spotlight on biodiversity in Scotland.

Today marks the launch of A strategy for improving waste data in Scotland, a partnership document written by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA), Zero Waste Scotland and the Scottish Government, in consultation with a range of stakeholders.

The Scotland’s environment web team has been working hard over the past year to find out what you – our users ­– would like from Scotland’s leading environmental information and data portal. Following lots of discussions, testing, redesign and further testing, we’re pleased to bring you our new website.

When you think of rocks, the chances are you’ll start picturing a rugged landscape with mountains and rocky outcrops. You might picture climbers, scaling great heights with ropes. Or walkers, scrambling over a ridge. You’ll most definitely be picturing something on dry land.

In Willie's latest blog, he shares with us his passion for the Scottish landscape and the important role he believes rocks and landforms have played in shaping who we are today.

With over 180 years of geological knowledge and experience, the British Geological Survey (BGS) has combined its extensive subsurface data with modern videogame technologies to create an innovative and engaging new way to explore the ground beneath our feet. Steven Richardson from BGS explains more about this exciting project.

Created by natural processes over the last 3 billion years, Scotland’s rocks and landforms (our geology and geomorphology) not only help us to understand how the Earth evolved, they also play a major role in shaping who we are and how we live; providing the foundation of our biodiversity, scenery, and cultural heritage.

Today sees the start of the Royal Highland Show - the four days in June each year that showcases the best of farming, food and rural life. It'll come as no surprise that many bring their prized livestock to be judged in the hope of winning the accolade of 'Best in Show'. But did you know that it's not just livestock under scrutiny from the judges? Soil is also vying to be top. Ken Loades from the James Hutton Institute tells us more...

Over the next few weeks we’ll be taking a closer look at the topic rocks and landforms; exploring the exciting projects our partners are working on in this area and looking at the maps, data tools and information available on our website to help you find out more about this fascinating topic. And to get things started, in this first blog we’ve asked Hugh Barron from the British Geological Survey (BGS) to explain more about why rocks and landforms are an important part of Scotland’s environment.

In this instalment we take a closer look at what the Scotland’s Environment partners are doing to help protect and improve our forests and woodlands, and how you can get involved.

With 18% of land in Scotland covered by woodland, and our forests contributing significantly to the wellbeing of our economy, wildlife and our own lives, we certainly have good cause to celebrate.

This month Willie takes us on a trip to his old stomping grounds of Sutherland and shares his thoughts on the changes he's seen over his career as a soil scientist.

When asked how we benefit from Scotland’s environment it’s likely that biodiversity springs to mind; our varied landscape – from coastal shores to mountain tops - and the wide range of plant and animal life it supports.

Today is World Oceans Day. All across the globe people have organised events and activities to celebrate and raise awareness of why we need to protect and conserve our oceans, seas and coastal waters.

Scotland is renowned worldwide as being a place of outstanding natural beauty. We owe that reputation to the diverse range of Scotland’s biodiversity.

Mention 'Scotland' and 'history' to anyone and they'll no doubt have images of castles, kilted warriors and Nessie running through their minds. And while these are all notable parts of our heritage, they are by no means all we have to offer.

Fifty years on from the introduction of the Clean Air Act, air pollution is still one of the biggest environmental threats we face. Over the last few months it seems like air quality has never been out of the news.

Leading Edge: Putting Scotland in the forefront of information sharing, data visualisation and citizen engagement

Scotland's environment website launched on UN World Environment Day