Land

Learn about why Scotland’s land is a fundamental asset. We grow food and timber on it; we build our houses and roads over it; much of our water filters through and is purified by it; it stores carbon; and it supports a range of habitats and species, some of which are internationally important.

Topic sections

Information
Have a go
Data
Maps
Apps
Surveys
Resources

Wetlands are found all over the country, with around 1,600 million tonnes of carbon stored in their peat soil.

By 2013, 18% of Scotland was covered by woodland – an increase from only 4.5% at the beginning of the 20th century. As a result of human influence and climate change, no woodlands in Scotland can be considered truly natural. Likewise, most of the uplands have been modified through grazing, drainage, forest planting and deposition of pollutants from the atmosphere, and near-natural habitats are now rare.

The Environmental Science and Biology ‘codes’ underneath each link refer to the Higher and National 5 Resource guides produced by Education Scotland. These can be accessed in the ‘Resources’ section of bit.ly/glowsciences (N.B. you will need a glow log in to access.)

The Geography ‘codes’ listed below will link to the SQA Unit Specifications.

Early & first level

Information

Breeding birds survey population trends for farmland bird species in Scotland - What has happened to bird populations on farmland over the past 20 years? These graphs show numbers have gone down for these three species? Why do you think that is? Click on the graphs to view a larger version.
- Learning outcomes: SCN 1-02a, SCN 1-20a & SOC 1-13a
Main agricultural causes of population change (PDF) - For teachers: Information for teachers about decline in farmland bird species.
- Learning outcomes: SCN 1-02a, SCN 1-20a & SOC 1-13a
Diagram of a wood – canopy, understory, field. Illustrates the differences between broadleaved and conifer - Different species of plants and animals live in different parts of woodlands. This picture shows the different layers in a wood. Click on the image to view a larger version.
- Learning outcome: SCN 1-02a
Map of relative wildness throughout Scotland - How ‘wild’ is the land where you live? Do you have lots of woodland and areas that haven’t been changed by humans? This map shows very wild areas in dark green. Click on the map to view a larger version.
- Learning outcomes: SOC 1-07a & SOC 1-13a
Royal Horticultural Society - School gardening - Find out more about the soil in your school rounds or local area with resources from the Royal Horticultural Society.
- Learning outcomes: SOC 1-08a & SOC 1-09a
The James Hutton Institute - Games and resources - For teachers: Teacher resources from James Hutton Institute about soils and outdoor learning.
- Learning outcomes: SOC 1-08a & SOC 1-13a

Have a go

Historic Environment Scotland - mobile app - What historic areas and buildings are near you? Use this app from Historic Scotland to find out more.
- Learning outcome: SOC 1-13a
OPAL - Earthworm guide - Earthworms are great for our soil. They keep it clean and full of nutrients. Use these surveys to find out about the soil near you and the species that live in it. An OPAL Soil Survey Field Guide (PDF) is also available.
- Learning outcomes: SCN 1-02a, SCN 1-01a & SOC 1-08a
The Mammal Society - Surveys and monitoring - The Mammal Society have lots of surveys to record different mammals across the British Isles.
- Learning Outcomes: SCN 1-01a & SOC 1-08a
Earthworms - Watch the video on either Vimeo or YouTube. You can also read the video transcript (word).

Second, third, fourth & senior level

Data

Breeding birds survey population trends for four farmland bird species in Scotland - What has happened to bird populations on farmland over the past 20 years? These graphs show numbers have gone down for these three species? Why do you think that is? Click on the graphs above to view a larger version.
- Second level - Learning outcome: SOC 2-08a
Native Woodland Survey of Scotland - What type of woodland tree species are in your local area? Use this site to find out. Click on the ‘Region details’ tab at the top and then choose your area from the menu on the left.
- Second level - Learning Outcomes: SOC 2-07a & SOC 2-14a
- Third & fourth level - Learning outcomes: SOC 4-08a & SCN 3-01a
- Senior level - Learning outcome: H.Bio. Sustainability and Interdependence 8 b
Agricultural area of Scotland by land use, June 2013 & Changes in cropping areas from 1938 to 2008 - What is farmland used for in Scotland? This pie chart show us how much farmland is used for grass, crops, woodland and grazing. What types of crops do we grow in Scotland? How has this changed over the past 70 years? This graphs shows the changes in wheat, barley and oats. Click on the image to view a larger version.
- Second level - Learning outcome: SOC 2-07a
- Third & fourth level - Learning outcomes: SOC 4-09a & SOC 4-10a
- Senior level - Learning outcome: H.ES.Living Environment 3 b
Changes in livestock numbers from 1945 to 2013 - What kinds of animals (livestock) do farmers in Scotland keep? How has this changed over the past 70 years? This graph shows the difference between cattle, sheep, pigs and poultry. Click on the graph to view a larger version.
- Second level - Learning outcome: SOC 2-07a
- Third & fourth level - Learning outcomes: SOC 4-09a & SOC 4-10a
- Senior level - Learning outcome: H.ES.Living Environment 3 b
Waste from all sources - What different types of waste are produced by industry and households in your area? Click the ‘waste generated’ tab at the top and select your region. How does your region compare with the national average? What industry is causing the waste?
- Third & fourth level - Learning outcomes: SOC 4-09a & SOC 4-10a
- Senior level - Learning outcome: H.ES Sustainability 4 b

Maps

Map of relative wildness throughout Scotland - How ‘wild’ is the land where you live? Do you have lots of woodland and areas that haven’t been changed by humans? This map shows very wild areas in dark green. See the map above to view a larger version.
- Second level - Learning outcomes: SOC 2-08a & SCN 2-02b
What type of woodland do you have in your area? - What type of woodland do you have in your area? Click on the map to view a larger version.
- Second level - Learning outcomes: SOC 2-14a & SCN 2-02b
Main soil types in Scotland - There are many different types of soil across Scotland. What types of soil can be found near you? Click on the map to view a larger version.
- Second level - Learning outcome: SOC 2-14a
National Soils Inventory - Use this map to find out about the soil in your area in more detail. Does this affect what you can grow in your area? Do farmers need to consider this?
- Second level - Learning outcome: SOC 2-08a
Locations and extent of wetlands - Scottish Wetlands Inventory - Wetlands can be found across Scotland and are an important habitat for many species. Are there any wetlands near you? Use this map to find out more. Click on the map to view a larger version.
- Second level - Learning outcomes: SOC 2-07a & SCN 2-02a
Listed buildings - There could be historic buildings near you that you might not know about. Use this map to find out about ‘listed buildings’ near you.
- Second level - Learning outcome: SOC 2-10a
- Third & fourth level - Learning outcome: SOC 4-10b
Battlefields - Many battles have taken place throughout Scotland’s long history. Find out about where the battlefields can be found using this map.
- Second level - Learning outcome: SOC 2-10a
Landfill sites - Are there landfill sites near you? How does this affect industry, the environment and people in your area?
- Third & fourth level - Learning outcomes: SOC 3-08a & SOC 4-10a
Wetlands - Wetlands are an important part of Scotland’s environment. Find out if there are wetlands near you. Use this map (and zoom in to at least 1:250,000) to find out exactly what type of wetlands areas are near you and consider the impact of human activity on the wetlands.
- Third & fourth level - Learning outcomes: SOC 3-10a & SOC 4-10a
- Senior level - Learning outcomes: H.Bio. Sustainability and Interdependence 8 b
Coal mining - Find out where coal mining took place in Scotland. Use this map to consider the implications for the environment.
- Third & fourth level - Learning outcome: SOC 4-08a
- Senior level - Learning outcome: N5.GEO.Human Environments 1.2
Soils
This map gives a simple overview of soil texture in your area. Use this to consider how this affects agriculture in your area.
- Third & fourth level - Learning outcome: SCN 3-17a
- Senior level - Learning outcomes: H.ES.Living Environment 3 b & H.ES.Earth’s Resources 3 a
Rocks - Use this map to find out about the rocks underneath Scotland. How does this affect the built environment in Scotland? How were these rocks formed? What does this tell us about the history of the land?
- Third & fourth level - Learning outcome: SCN 3-17a
Waste sites - Are there landfill sites near you? How does this affect industry, the environment and people in your area?
- Senior level - Learning outcome: H.ES sustainability 4 b

Apps

Historic Environment Scotland - This app is your one-stop shop for information on Scotland’s iconic historic attractions. Packed with essential information and beautiful imagery for Historic Scotland’s 78 manned properties - including admission price, opening times, facilities and travel - this guide will help you research your next holiday or simply plan a day trip with the kids.
- Available from the App Store
- Available from Google Play
iGeology - iGeology is a free smartphone app that lets you take a geological map of Britain with you wherever you go to help you learn about the rocks beneath your feet. And with the phone's GPS, you'll know exactly where you are.
- Available from the App Store
- Available from Google Play
mySoil - mySoil gives you access to a comprehensive European soil properties map within a single app. Discover what lies beneath your feet and help us to build a community dataset by submitting your own soil information.
- Available from the App Store
- Available from Google Play
PlantTracker - Invasive non-native plant species are a threat to native wildlife in the UK. Help us track them down using PlantTracker. The Environment Agency, the Nature Locator team at the University of Bristol and the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology have joined forces to help combat the spread of the UK’s most problematic invasive, non-native plant species.
- Available from the App Store
iEnviroWatch - iEnviroWatch allows you to visualise and query environmental information at your local geographical location or geographical area of your interest. Environmental information services are published by the European Environment Agency.
- Available from the App Store

Surveys

OPAL - Earthworm guide - Earthworms are great for our soil. They keep it clean and full of nutrients. Use these surveys to find out about the soil near you and the species that live in it. Soil survey field guide (PDF)
- Second level - Learning outcomes: SCN 2-01a & SCN 2-02a
OPAL - Soil survey - Take part in the OPAL soil survey to find out more about the soil in your local area and improve knowledge about earthworms and their importance.
- Third & fourth level - Learning outcome: SCN 3-01a
- Senior level - Learning outcomes: H.ES.Living Environment 1c, H.ES.Living Environment 1e & H.ES.Earth’s Resources 3a
OPAL - Tree health survey - The Tree Health OPAL survey will help you to learn about pests and diseases affecting Britain’s trees.
- Third & fourth level - Learning outcome: SCN 3-01a
- Senior level - Learning outcomes: H.ES.Living Environment 1c & H.ES.Living Environment 1e
The Mammal Society - The Mammal Society have lots of surveys to record different mammals across the British Isles.
- Second level - Learning outcome: SCN 2-01a
What's up - The 'What's up?' project aims to address the lack of information about Scotland’s uplands by increasing biological recording in upland habitats.
- Third & fourth level - Learning outcomes: SOC 3-10a, SOC 4-12b & SCN 3-01a
- Senior level - Learning outcomes: H.ES.Living Environment 1c, H.ES.Living Environment 1e
Forth Nature Counts - Survey project aimed at finding out more about the species that live on areas around the River Forth; including Clackmannanshire, Stirling, Falkirk and Fife.
- Senior level - Learning outcomes: H.ES.Living Environment 1c & H.ES.Living Environment 1e

Resources

Invasive species found in Scotland (PDF) - Non-native invasive species are a threat to our Scottish plant species. What area is covered by these invasive plants?
Typical setting of wetlands in the Scottish - Wetlands are very important habitats for many species in Scotland. This diagram shows a typical wetland area. Click on the diagram to view a larger version.
- Second level - Learning outcomes: SOC 2-07a & SCN 2-01a
Functions of wetlands and benefits (PDF) - This table explains why wetlands are important.
- Learning outcome: SOC 2-07a
Scotland’s soils - Key facts about Scotland’s soils.
- Senior level - Learning outcomes: N5.GEO.Human Environments 1.2 & H.GEO.Global Issues 2.2
Land infographic (PDF) - Summary of key facts about land in Scotland.
- Senior level - Learning outcomes: N5.GEO.Human Environments 1.2 & H.GEO.Global Issues 2.2
Earthworms - Watch the video on either Vimeo or YouTube. You can also read the video transcript (word).
Measuring soil pH - Watch the video on either Vimeo or YouTube. You can also read the video transcript (word).
Measuring tree height - Watch the video on either Vimeo or YouTube. You can also read the video transcript (word).
Pitfall traps - Watch the video on either Vimeo or YouTube. You can also read the video transcript (word).
Sampling stategies - Watch the video on either Vimeo or YouTube. You can also read the video transcript (word).
Small mammal trapping - Watch the video on either Vimeo or YouTube. You can also read the video transcript (word).
Soil texture - Watch the video on either Vimeo or YouTube. You can also read the video transcript (word).