Habitat Composer

Habitat Composer is a web-based computer application that creates unique landscape illustrations of a site and representative cross sections through portions of the site. It can be used for a wide range of communication tasks, but is designed primarily to enable conservation advisors or site managers to provide individual bespoke pictures of what they would like habitat management to achieve on an individual site. These site-specific illustrations will personalise advice for site owners and managers and will be of particular value in illustrating prescriptions for rare species or sites with unique or complex requirements. The idea is that an advisor can illustrate the ideal vegetation structure that they would like to see on a site, then show it to a farmer or grazier.

Habitat Composer is simple to use: users do not need to be computer literate or artistic. After a few hours practice most people will be able to produce high quality printed illustrations to present to a farmer or landowner. It is recommended that new users download and read the user guide before they get started.

All that is needed to use Habitat Composer is a reasonably quick computer, access to a good internet connection and two free and widely used pieces of software: Adobe Acrobat and Flash Player. Click on the link below to access Habitat Composer and request a log in code if you are a new user.

The two habitat types currently available on Habitat Composer are dry Lowland Heaths and Steep Limestone Dales Grasslands (typical of the Peak District).

HABITAT COMPOSER HOME PAGE

Download Habitat Composer User Guide (PDF)

Please email gap@rbst.org.uk if you have any problems or queries regarding Habitat Composer.