About SoilMapUK

🌱 Our Mission

SoilMapUK is an independent, open-source educational project created to make UK soil quality information more accessible to the general public. We believe that environmental data should be easy to understand and available to everyone.

Our mission is to aggregate publicly available soil data from various official UK sources and present it in a user-friendly, easy-to-navigate format for educational purposes.

⚠️ Important Disclaimers

Not Affiliated with Any Government Agency

SoilMapUK is NOT affiliated with, endorsed by, sponsored by, or officially connected to any UK government agency, department, or institution. This includes but is not limited to:

• UK Government (GOV.UK)
• Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA)
• Environment Agency
• British Geological Survey (BGS)
• Cranfield University
• UK Soil Observatory (UKSO)
• LandIS (Land Information System)
• Any local councils or regional authorities

We are an independent group of developers and data enthusiasts working on a voluntary basis.

Educational Purpose Only

This website is created solely for educational and informational purposes. The information provided should NOT be used as:

• Professional agricultural advice
• Official soil assessment for land purchase or development
• Replacement for professional soil testing
• Legal documentation or evidence
• Official government guidance
• Commercial decision-making tool

No Liability

We accept no liability or responsibility for any actions taken based on information found on this website. Users are solely responsible for verifying information and conducting their own professional assessments.

📊 Data Sources & Methodology

Where Our Data Comes From

All data presented on SoilMapUK is compiled from publicly available open-source databases and research publications. We do NOT conduct our own soil testing or field research. Our primary data sources include:

• GOV.UK - State of the Environment reports
• UK Soil Observatory (UKSO) - Public soil data maps
• LandIS Soilscapes - Soil classification viewer
• British Geological Survey (BGS) - Geological and soil surveys
• Cranfield University - Academic soil research publications
• Environment Agency - Environmental data reports

Data Processing

We aggregate and format data from multiple sources to create a unified view. This process involves:

• Cross-referencing multiple data sources
• Standardizing formats for easier comparison
• Organizing data by city/region
• Presenting complex scientific data in accessible language

Data Accuracy & Limitations

Important: While we strive for accuracy, we acknowledge the following limitations:

• Data may be outdated - source data is updated periodically by original publishers
• Soil conditions vary significantly even within small areas
• Regional data may not reflect specific plot conditions
• Aggregated data represents general trends, not precise measurements
• We are not soil scientists or environmental experts

Always conduct professional soil testing for specific land use, agricultural planning, construction, or health and safety assessments.

🤝 Who We Are

SoilMapUK is maintained by independent developers passionate about:

• Open data accessibility
• Environmental awareness
• Educational technology
• Community knowledge sharing

We are NOT:

• Professional soil scientists
• Agricultural consultants
• Government employees
• Academic researchers

This is an educational project dedicated to making soil information accessible to everyone.

💻 Open Source & Technology

SoilMapUK is built using:

• HTML, CSS, and JavaScript (no backend, fully static)
• Data compiled from public CSV exports
• Open-source code architecture
• Privacy-focused (no personal data collection)

We believe in transparency and open-source principles. This project is built to be educational and accessible to all.

🚫 What We Don't Do

To be absolutely clear, SoilMapUK does NOT:

• Collect, store, or sell user data
• Conduct original soil research or testing
• Provide professional advice or consultations
• Represent any government or official body
• Make guarantees about data accuracy
• Claim ownership of source data

Note: To maintain this free educational resource, we may display advertisements in the future. Any advertising will be clearly marked and will not affect the accuracy or independence of our data.

📧 Contact & Corrections

If you notice any errors, inaccuracies, or have concerns about the information presented, we encourage you to:

• Verify information with official sources (links provided in footer)
• Contact the original data publishers for authoritative information
• Conduct your own professional soil testing
• Consult with qualified agricultural or environmental professionals

For urgent or critical concerns, please contact the official UK government agencies listed in our data sources rather than relying on this website.

🔄 Data Updates

We aim to update our data periodically as new information becomes available from official sources. However:

• Update frequency is not guaranteed
• Updates depend on availability of new public data
• We are not notified automatically when source data changes
• Real-time data is not available on this platform

Last data compilation: October 2025 (from publicly available sources up to this date)

⚖️ Legal Notice

By using this website, you acknowledge and agree that:

• This is an independent educational project
• Information is provided "as-is" without warranties
• You will not hold us liable for any decisions based on this information
• You understand the limitations and disclaimers stated above
• You will conduct proper due diligence for any serious decisions

🌍 Commitment to Accessibility

We are committed to making soil information accessible to:

• Students and educators
• Home gardeners and allotment holders
• Environmental enthusiasts
• Community groups and local initiatives
• Anyone curious about UK soil quality

This project exists because we believe environmental data should be freely available and easy to understand.

🙏 Acknowledgments

We extend our gratitude to all UK government agencies, research institutions, and organizations that make their soil data publicly available. Without their commitment to open data, projects like SoilMapUK would not be possible.

Special thanks to:

• UK Government Open Data Initiative
• British Geological Survey
• Cranfield University Soil Research
• Environment Agency
• LandIS and National Soil Resources Institute

All credit for original data and research belongs to these organizations.