ABSTRACT
Some world vegetation maps show the British Isles to be covered mainly with deciduous summer forest, parts of northern Scotland only being covered with mixed forest and alpine vegetation. Similarly, world soil maps show a continuous sweep of brown forest soils on most of the area with a zone of podzols across the north-west. It is clear that these maps have serious limitations. Hikers and amateur naturalists, in planning their weekend excursions, are guided by the knowledge that, within only a few square miles, they can find enormous contrasts in scenery; the soils, vegetation and associated fauna are an integral part of this varied scenery. The world maps merely show the type of vegetation and soil that would be found over much of the area if it were naturally well-drained, of only gentle gradient and completely undisturbed by man. Since hardly any of the present surface of Britain fulfils all these requirements, it is small wonder that the world maps are of little practical value. Apart from the fact that the compilers of such maps intended to show nothing but the theoretical climatic climax vegetation and the zonal soil types, the limitations of scale are also obvious. It is because of the small scale that relatively small areas, even of climatic climax, have to be omitted from such maps. It is because of the basic premises upon which the maps are constructed, that no indication at all is given of the nature of the numerous subclimax, plagioclimax and seral communities which cover even the uncultivated parts of the landscape.
