The SILOtoSOIL Tool

The SILOtoSOIL Tool is designed to support informed decision-making and collaboration across soil management practices. However, it is important to note that the guidance and resources provided within the tool must be considered alongside relevant regulatory frameworks.

Soil management and environmental protection are governed by a range of national and international laws, regulations, and standards that vary by region/location. These include, but are not limited to environmental protection legislation, land use policies, and standards for soil quality and conservation.

Through colour coding, the Tool highlights the regional context for the organisations and/or guidance. The purpose of this is to promote learning and collaboration outside our own regions.

Users are encouraged to consult with competent authorities and seek professional legal or regulatory advice to ensure compliance with all applicable laws and standards before implementing any guidance found through the Tool.

The copyright and intellectual property (IP) rights for The SILOtoSOIL Tool developed by MidLE and reviewed and hosted by SocEnv are jointly structured to recognise the contributions of both parties. MidLE retains ownership of the original concepts, content, and design, ensuring the protection of its creative efforts. SocEnv, as the reviewing and hosting partner, is granted shared rights to the Tool’s implementation within its hosting environment, allowing future collaboration in its ongoing use and development to sit alongside the soils and stones triannual report.

Any third- party resources or linked materials included within the Mapping are subject to their respective copyright holders’ terms and conditions. Users should respect these terms and seek appropriate permissions when necessary.

The SILOtoSOIL Tool is designed as a high- level reference and does not provide in- depth analysis or endorsement of any specific guidance. Users should assess the relevance and applicability of resources to their own needs. The Tool is intended to support knowledge- sharing and collaboration but does not replace professional advice. Users should seek expert consultation where necessary before applying any guidance to projects or decision- making. Please refer to the SocEnv privacy policy.

While every effort is made to ensure accuracy, information may change over time. Users are advised to check with original sources for the latest updates. The Database is reviewed periodically, but not all changes in policy or guidance may be reflected immediately. The Tool provides links to external resources, MidLE and SocEnv are not responsible for the content, accuracy, or copyright permissions of third- party materials. Users should respect copyright and licensing terms when accessing external documents. Access notes are outlined in the database where paywall or registration is required to access the specific document.

Soil- related regulations, policies, and guidance vary by country and region (location). While devolved nations (Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland) are included, some jurisdiction- specific guidance may not be fully covered.

• Land Use Type – The way in which land is used to provide a context for guidance
  • Natural – Natural land use e.g. peat land
  • Managed – Land use where land is managed to fulfil the purpose e.g. agriculture
  • Peri- Urban and Built – Land use where buildings, Infrastructure and/or hard landscaping have been/ are being undertaken. e.g. development
• Disciplines – Primary target audience for the use of the SILOtoSOIL tool
  • Carbon and Sustainability: Reducing carbon emissions and promoting sustainable practices/activities that mitigate climate change impacts while fostering sustainable use of soil resources.
  • Water Management: Three interconnected areas of flooding, drainage and water quality in order to main soil health, prevent soil degradation and ensure sustainable land use.
  • Forestry: The sustainable management, conservation and use of forests/woodlands and their soils to main the ecosystem.
  • Planning: Integrating soil management and protection into land- use planning and development processes to ensure sustainable land use.
  • BNG/Ecology: The role of soils as a foundation for ecosystems and biodiversity, where effective soil management within the context of BNG results in improvements in biodiversity and enhancing soil function.
  • Quarrying/Mining: Activities of quarrying and mining that have significant interactions with soils, from the removal, disturbance and restoration of land surfaces.
  • Agriculture: Soil management linking to long- term productivity, reliance and environmental sustainability, whilst supporting plant growth, regulating water supply and sustaining ecosystem services.
  • Landscaping: The design and management of outdoor spaces, where the quality and type of soil influences plant selection, water management and overall sustainability.
  • Geotechnical/Engineering: The application of soil/rock mechanics to design and construction infrastructure and understanding soil properties.
  • Waste, Reuse and Permitting: Controlling how waste soil is handled, stored, treated, disposed of or reused.
  • Land Condition: The state or quality of the land in relation to soil contamination resulting from various activities and subsequent remediation.
  • R&D: Soil initiatives, resources and programmes researching soils, soil function and soil protection.
  • Data and Evidence: Soil mapping or data produced for specific purposes.

• Competent Authorities – Any governmental, administrative or other body, authority or agency (whether public or private in nature) exercising regulatory or supervisory authority under laws or regulations relating to the environment, land management or, where relevant, the strategic road network.
• Other Bodies and Organisations – Non- regulatory entities in the UK, or any relevant international bodies, that play a role in the development, dissemination, or application of soil- related guidance, research, and resources.
• Location – The region in which the organisation and/or guidance is focused.

The SILOtoSOIL Tool is an evolving resource, with ongoing updates and improvements driven by user feedback. Maintenance will be managed in line with the SocEnv Soils and Stones Report triannual review. The aim is for the resource to be collated into a single, user- friendly document for ease of navigation.

We encourage users to provide feedback via the available feedback forms here (Microsoft Forms), helping to shape the Tool’s development and ensure it remains a valuable resource for all. Feedback will be reviewed on a six- monthly basis to assess necessary updates and additions. The SILOtoSOIL project team shall endeavour to review feedback in a timely manner.

Where significant changes are made, a new version of the Tool will be made available for download via the website, with previous versions archived and considered as superseded.