Background High Nature Value farmland (HNVf) supports biodiverse, semi-natural habitats through extensive farming but is increasingly threatened in Ireland by land intensification and abandonment. Results-based payment schemes (RBPS) aim to maintain and enhance these habitats, yet their broader biodoversity benefits remain unclear. Aims This study examined the relationship between an RBPS scoring system developed for the protected hen harrier (Circus cyaneus) and semi-natural grassland plant communities. Methods Thirty grassland fields spanning a gradient of RBPS ecological condition scores from (0-10) were surveyed. Vegetation surveys were carried out in three 2 m & times; 2 m quadrats per fieldalong a 'W' transect walk, supplemented with additional environmental data as proxies for environmental conditions and management pressure. Non-metric Multidimensional Scaling was used to analyse species composition, and fields were assigned to a vegetation type using the Irish Vegetation Classification ERICA tool. Results Higher RBPS scores were positively associated with greater number and cover of positive indicator species, increased bryophyte cover, and higher floristic diversity indices. Lower scoring fields were associated with greater cover of negative indicator species, increased rush cover and higher Ellenberg's Nitrogen and Reaction values. Eight wet grassland community types were identified. Conclusions Our findings indicate that an RBPS designed to incentivise ecological conditions for a target raptor species can also reflect wider plant diversity, supporting multiple ecosystem services in HNVf systems.

CONTEXT: Prescription-based agri-environmental schemes have demonstrated poor return on investment, prompting exploration of alternative mechanisms including results-based and hybrid approaches. Ireland's decision to mainstream Results-Based agri-environmental Payment Schemes (RBPS) in its 2023-2027 Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) Strategic Plan represents Europe's largest implementation of RBPS in agricultural policy. OBJECTIVES: To analyze the policy decision-making process behind Ireland's mainstreaming of RBPS, examining how this innovative agri-environmental policy was developed and the factors that enabled its large-scale implementation within the CAP framework. METHODS: The study employed three complementary analytical perspectives: historical timeline analysis, complex adaptive systems theory, and policy windows theory. Data collection involved interviews with 14 key stakeholders, a validation workshop and analysis of relevant literature. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: RBPS emerged through a 20-year evolutionary process involving pilot projects, evidence building, and sustained advocacy by a 'coalition of the willing'. Pilot projects played a crucial role in providing proof of concept, building implementation capacity, and developing methodologies. Policy change resulted from the strategic combination of ongoing advocacy efforts with the effective utilization of policy windows, particularly CAP cycles. However, scaling RBPS nationally presents implementation challenges, especially concerning IT systems and administrative capacity. SIGNIFICANCE: This research contributes to understanding how innovative agri-environmental policies can be effectively developed and implemented at scale. Multiple analytical perspectives provide valuable insights for future policy development in complex governance domains. Key recommendations for strengthening future implementation include upgrading technical infrastructure, enhancing farmer engagement, improving training programs, refining payment structures, and better advance planning.

Abstract In Ireland, Corncrakes (Crex crex) have declined drastically over recent decades. To combat their decline, conservation measures such as delayed mowing and the creation of early and late cover (ELC) have been established in grasslands throughout their range. The contributions of ELC to successful Corncrake breeding are understood; however, there is a lack of knowledge on how this cover influences ground‐dwelling invertebrates. In this study, we used a field‐based approach to explore the influence of ELC on the diversity and abundance of ground‐dwelling invertebrates with a particular emphasis on important prey for Corncrakes. We used mixed models to explore differences in invertebrate abundances between ELC, natural regeneration cover and the surrounding farmland (SFL) throughout the Corncrakes' breeding season. ELC supported a significantly higher abundance of prey for Corncrakes, especially during the early and later stages of the breeding season than both the natural regeneration cover and SFL. Practical implication. Our study highlights the positive contributions of ELC to the abundance of prey for Corncrakes. For future management, ELC should continue to be established and managed across the Corncrakes breeding range in Ireland. Furthermore, natural regeneration areas should be managed to create more open heterogeneous swards to benefit both Corncrakes and prey alike.

Paying for the results of agri‐environmental measures, rather than paying for prescribed management practices (action‐based), has become an attractive design option to enhance scheme effectiveness and uptake by farmers. There is a wide range of approaches to integrating results‐based elements, with so‐called hybrid options featuring base payments or action‐based payments, to ensure they work within the respective institutional settings and environmental context of different countries, facilitating upscaling. To assist decision makers, this article presents experiences from Ireland, England and Flanders (Belgium). In the Irish example, results‐based elements have been combined with financial support for specific ‘action‐based’ interventions (one‐off capital investments termed supporting actions) to improve the assessment score to achieve better results‐based payments in future. In England, the main results‐based scheme was supplemented by a minimum management contract, following farmer feedback, to alleviate the risk of no payment. In Flanders, the results‐based version of a grassland pilot has now been integrated into the national scheme and is seeing higher rates of uptake than the purely action‐based measures. Scorecard design is crucial, as it determines the complexity of monitoring and reporting in contract design, while payment levels determine the strength of the incentives for farmer’s management decisions and mitigating risk perception.

Paying for the results of agri-environmental measures, rather than paying for prescribed management practices (action-based), has become an attractive design option to enhance scheme effectiveness and uptake by farmers. There is a wide range of approaches to integrating results-based elements, with so-called hybrid options featuring base payments or action-based payments, to ensure they work within the respective institutional settings and environmental context of different countries, facilitating upscaling.To assist decision makers, this article presents experiences from Ireland, England and Flanders (Belgium). In the Irish example, results-based elements have been combined with financial support for specific 'action-based' interventions (one-off capital investments termed supporting actions) to improve the assessment score to achieve better results-based payments in future. In England, the main results-based scheme was supplemented by a minimum management contract, following farmer feedback, to alleviate the risk of no payment. In Flanders, the results-based version of a grassland pilot has now been integrated into the national scheme and is seeing higher rates of uptake than the purely action-based measures. Scorecard design is crucial, as it determines the complexity of monitoring and reporting in contract design, while payment levels determine the strength of the incentives for farmer's management decisions and mitigating risk perception. La r & eacute;mun & eacute;ration des r & eacute;sultats des mesures agroenvironnementales (paiement au r & eacute;sultat), plut & ocirc;t que celle des pratiques agricoles prescrites (paiement & agrave; l'action), est devenue une option int & eacute;ressante pour am & eacute;liorer l'efficacit & eacute; des programmes et leur acceptation par les agriculteurs. Il existe une grande vari & eacute;t & eacute; d'approches pour int & eacute;grer des & eacute;l & eacute;ments de r & eacute;mun & eacute;ration au r & eacute;sultat, notamment des options hybrides combinant paiements de base et paiements au r & eacute;sultat, afin de garantir leur adaptation aux contextes institutionnels et environnementaux propres & agrave; chaque pays et de faciliter leur mise & agrave; l'& eacute;chelle.Pour aider les d & eacute;cideurs, cet article pr & eacute;sente des exp & eacute;riences en Irlande, en Angleterre et en Flandre (Belgique). En Irlande, des & eacute;l & eacute;ments ax & eacute;s sur les r & eacute;sultats ont & eacute;t & eacute; associ & eacute;s & agrave; un soutien financier pour des interventions cibl & eacute;es (investissements ponctuels appel & eacute;s actions de soutien) afin d'am & eacute;liorer le score d'& eacute;valuation et d'obtenir de meilleurs paiements au r & eacute;sultat & agrave; l'avenir. En Angleterre, le principal dispositif ax & eacute; sur les r & eacute;sultats a & eacute;t & eacute; compl & eacute;t & eacute; par un contrat de gestion minimal, suite aux retours des agriculteurs, afin d'att & eacute;nuer le risque de non-paiement. En Flandre, la version ax & eacute;e sur les r & eacute;sultats d'un projet pilote de gestion des prairies a & eacute;t & eacute; int & eacute;gr & eacute;e au dispositif national et enregistre des taux d'adoption plus & eacute;lev & eacute;s que les mesures purement ax & eacute;es sur l'action. La conception du tableau de bord est cruciale, car elle d & eacute;termine la complexit & eacute; du suivi et du reporting dans la conception du contrat, tandis que le niveau des paiements d & eacute;termine la force des incitations pour les d & eacute;cisions de gestion des agriculteurs et la r & eacute;duction de la perception du risque. Die Bezahlung f & uuml;r die Ergebnisse von Agrarumweltma ss nahmen anstelle einer Bezahlung f & uuml;r vorgeschriebene Bewirtschaftungspraktiken (aktionsbasiert) ist zu einer attraktiven Gestaltungsoption geworden, um die Wirksamkeit der Programme und deren Akzeptanz in der Landwirtschaft zu verbessern. Es gibt eine Vielzahl von Ans & auml;tzen zur Integration ergebnisorientierter Elemente, darunter sogenannte Hybridoptionen mit Basis- oder aktionsbasierten Zahlungen. Auf diese Weise kann sichergestellt werden, dass sie innerhalb der jeweiligen institutionellen Rahmenbedingungen und des & ouml;kologischen Kontexts der verschiedenen L & auml;nder funktionieren und gut ausgeweitet werden k & ouml;nnen.Um Entscheidungstr & auml;gern zu helfen, werden im vorliegenden Artikel Erfahrungen aus Irland, England und Flandern (Belgien) vorgestellt. Im irischen Beispiel wurden ergebnisorientierte Elemente mit finanzieller Unterst & uuml;tzung f & uuml;r bestimmte ,,aktionsbasierte "Ma ss nahmen (einmalige Kapitalinvestitionen, die als unterst & uuml;tzende Ma ss nahmen bezeichnet werden) kombiniert, um die Bewertungsergebnisse zu verbessern und in Zukunft effektivere ergebnisorientierte Zahlungen zu erzielen. In England wurde das wichtigste ergebnisorientierte System auf Wunsch der Landwirtinnen und Landwirten durch einen Mindestbewirtschaftungsvertrag erg & auml;nzt, damit das Risiko einer Nichtzahlung minimiert wird. In Flandern wurde die ergebnisorientierte Version eines Gr & uuml;nland-Pilotprojekts nun in das nationale System integriert und verzeichnet eine h & ouml;here Akzeptanz als die rein handlungsbasierten Ma ss nahmen. Die Gestaltung der Bewertungskriterien ist von entscheidender Bedeutung, da sie die Komplexit & auml;t der & Uuml;berwachung und Berichterstattung bei der Vertragsgestaltung bestimmt. Dagegen beeinflusst die H & ouml;he der Zahlungen den Anreiz f & uuml;r bestimmte Bewirtschaftungsentscheidungen der Landwirtinnen und Landwirte und die Minderung der Risikowahrnehmung.

Globally, pollinating insects face significant pressure, largely due to intensively managed agricultural systems. There has been considerable focus on the provision of resources for pollinators in agricultural landscapes, but without understanding how existing farmland habitats affect pollinators there is a risk these conservation actions could fail. The aim of this study was to explore the relationships between the quantity, diversity, and quality of on-farm habitats with pollinator communities. To meet this aim, pollinator, floral and habitat features were assessed at twenty-nine sites, encompassing both livestock and crop systems, at a range of farming intensities, in two regions of Ireland. Results showed that the three main taxonomic pollinator groups (hoverflies, social bees, and solitary bees) were inconsistent in their responses to habitat and environmental variables. Hoverflies were negatively associated with farms with increasing amounts of linear feature and fewer drainage ditches, whereas bumblebees were positively associated with crop farms and the number of grassy margins, drainage ditches and hedgerows at a site. Solitary bees were negatively associated with crop farms and positively associated with high floral species richness. At a species level, community analysis showed that within taxonomic groups, individual species responded differently to environmental variables. This study demonstrates that different farm types and habitat features impact pollinator groups differently. One-size does not fit all, thus on-farm conservation actions should be designed with knowledge of taxon-specific responses to maximise benefits. The quantity and diversity of essential habitats are important along with the quality of those features in terms of their capacity to provide sufficient resources for pollinators.

High Nature Value (HNV) farmlands currently retain most of the biodiversity associated with agricultural landscapes in Europe. In a time of globalized food systems, the social-ecological conditions to maintain these low-intensity and thus less productive HNV farming systems are difficult to meet. Halting the loss of HNV farmland requires fostering the socioeconomic viability of HNV farming systems that is compatible with social, cultural, and ecological values. Pursuing such viability calls for tailored actions to steer the development of HNV farming systems based on the strength of their local assets. Such a transformational learning process involves changing the territorial dynamic towards better integration of biodiversity at several levels of management (from farm to territorial level). Based on the description and analysis of ten HNV territories distributed across Europe, we explore how HNV innovation brokers can strategically engage with local actors to preserve the environmental characteristics of HNV farmland areas while improving their socioeconomic viability. The aim of this research is to improve the understanding of the range of approaches and strategies of innovation brokers to meet the challenges of HNV farmland conservation. The study analyzes the different innovation processes that took place in each area, concentrating on the engagement phase. Our results demonstrate that HNV farming situations across Europe are quite diverse from an agroecological and socioeconomic point of view. There are distinct conservation challenges and associated risks for each HNV farming context. The need for a strategic approach to HNV conservation at landscape–territory level is discussed. The key role of innovation brokers is highlighted, together with the need for a strategic approach to innovation brokerage, which is explicit in relation to territorial needs and the changes required. We demonstrate the importance of the landscape–territorial vision as an entry point for shaping HNV farming systems towards socially desirable scenarios.

Some pollinator species found in agricultural areas are strongly dependent on surrounding areas of natural or semi-natural habitats to nest and/or forage. Landscape structure has been shown to influence pollinator communities and understanding how landscape structure affects farmland pollinators can improve Agri-Environment Schemes (AES). This study explored how landscape metrics affect the presence of pollinators associated with woody vegetation in farmland in the Republic of Ireland. Two study regions were selected, and pollinators were collected using pan traps placed in farm linear features. Hoverfly and bee species were selected based on their body size and association with woody vegetation. Relevant landscape structure metrics were extracted from around each trap and used to develop explanatory models for the abundance of pollinators. The total abundance of target species was relatively low but correlated with three explanatory variables: the connectivity of the linear feature to woodlands; the distance from the trap to the closest woodland; and edge density. Hoverfly and bee abundance data, when analysed separately, showed significant differences within regions. Results seem to indicate that incentivising the connectivity of farm linear features to surrounding woodland patches and increasing optimal habitat availability in agricultural landscapes could benefit woodland specialists. This information is helpful to improving AES design.

Stone walls are ubiquitous field boundaries used to restrict livestock movement or to separate property. Bryophytes and lichens are often the dominant vegetation in dry stone walls and are strongly affected by local microhabitat characteristics. Bryophytes and lichens related metrics can be used to define habitat quality of stone walls.The current study assessed how richness and cover of bryophytes and macrolichens in dry stone walls related to each other and how different environmental variables and farm management descriptors determined richness and cover of both groups in dry stone walls. Bryophytes and macrolichens were sampled in stone walls on sixteen farms across a management intensity gradient in Ireland. Bryophyte cover correlated positively and significantly with bryophyte richness and macrolichen cover and richness, and can thus be used to assess stone walls quality. Farm management intensity emerged as the variable most strongly related with species richness of bryophytes and cover of both groups. Altitude also emerged as a strong predictor of both groups' richness and cover. This study provides a novel perspective on stone wall habitat quality and results indicate that by promoting extensive farming it is possible to increase stone walls quality.

EDITORIAL article Front. Ecol. Evol., 22 December 2022Sec. Conservation and Restoration Ecology Volume 10 - 2022 | https://doi.org/10.3389/fevo.2022.1115196

While the value of linear farm habitats for the protection and enhancement of farmland biodiversity in general is known, less is understood about their contribution to Diptera, especially those with different ecological requirements. In this study, we examined the impact of a range of linear farm habitats in agricultural grassland on Syrphidae and Sciomyzidae (Diptera) both of which provide important ecosystem services. Species richness and abundance for each family were measured across five different linear habitat types (dense and open hedgerows with/without adjacent watercourses and watercourses only). While dense hedgerows with adjacent watercourses showed the greatest numbers of Syrphidae species and individuals, open hedgerows with adjacent watercourses had significantly more Sciomyzidae species and individuals than dense hedgerows without watercourses or open hedgerows only. Syrphidae species richness was significantly correlated with the flowering plant species richness of linear habitats, while Sciomyzidae species richness was correlated with a habitat quality score for grasslands adjacent to the linear habitats. Overall, Syrphidae and Sciomyzidae species richness and community composition are shown to reflect a farming intensity gradient with significantly greater species richness for both families on extensive farms. Our results suggest that different dipteran taxa which utilise linear habitats may have different requirements. This has implications for future agri‐environmental schemes in the context of how we assess the conservation value of linear habitats on farmlands.

Agri-Environment Schemes (AES) have long been implemented across Europe to incentivise farmers to alter their management practices to improve biodiversity and water, air and soil quality. However, the cost-effectiveness of traditional action-based schemes has been questioned, and Result-Based Payment (RBP) schemes have been recommended as an alternative. To evaluate the effectiveness of management actions, RBP approaches often rely on indicator species to monitor changes in environmental conditions. The selection of appropriate indicator species for RBP follows several steps and criteria. One of the mentioned criteria is that the species should react to the farmer's management choices. Thus, the main objective of this study is to understand how existing lists of indicator plant species (aimed at assessing ecological integrity of grasslands and hedgerows in Ireland) are suitable for RBP schemes, by assessing how different environmental and management variables are related to the presence of the plant species selected. Extensive field surveys were conducted to assess the presence and cover of indicator species in grasslands and hedgerows in two study regions in Ireland. The indicator plant species occurrence and diversity (species richness and Simpson's Diversity Index) were correlated with variables within farmers' control and variables outside farmers' control. Results showed that grassland indicator species occurrence and diversity was mainly related to grassland semi-naturalness and to the diversity of habitats existing on the farm – both variables within farmers' control – and thus were appropriate indicators for assessing the effectiveness of management and suitable for use in RBP schemes. Conversely, the occurrence and diversity of hedgerow indicator species was not strongly related to any of the explanatory variables, making them unsuitable for use in a RBP scheme. For a RBP scheme targeted at hedgerows, clear objectives will need to be established and the farmers' management choices need to be better linked to the selected indicator species. The selection of indicator species needs to undergo scientific scrutiny to develop fair results assessments as shown by the results of this study. The analyses conducted highlight the importance of testing if the species react to the farmers' management choices and should be a key methodological step before final indicator species lists are implemented in RBP schemes. Recommendations for results assessments in RBP approaches are discussed based on the results of this study.

High Nature Value farmland (HNVf) is managed farmland that has high biodiversity and often supports species of conservation concern. Assessing the distribution and extent of such farmlands is useful for appropriate targeting of conservation measures and supporting associated rural communities. The conservation of species and habitats within HNVf is also among the aims of the EU's (European Union) Biodiversity Strategy and is a focus of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) Rural Development Programme. Data on HNVf distribution and extent is required for both policy implementations under the CAP for income support payments and reporting within the EU Biodiversity strategy. Here, we extend the scope of the methodology from a previous study by presenting a finer spatial resolution to map the likely distribution of HNVf in the Republic of Ireland using indicators adapted for the Irish context and weighted based on expert knowledge and literature. The indicators (and weighting) used were: semi-natural habitat cover (40%, from CORINE land cover), stocking density (30%, from Land Parcel Information System; LPIS), hedgerow/scrub cover (10%), river and stream density (10%), and soil diversity (10%). Indicators were included in a weighted sum model (WSM) that combined raster indicator inputs, representing relative weights and the output had a tetrad-scale (2 km x 2 km) resolution. We used various datasets (national nature designations, Irish semi-natural grasslands survey, intensive farmland points and field points with semi-natural habitats) to validate the final HNVf map. To do this, all datasets were converted from polygon to point data format by considering the centroid of the polygon as the data point and overlaid on the HNVf map to assess the possible incidence. Of the 13,660 tetrads defined as farmland in the analysis, 4602 (33.7%) had a high or very high likelihood of being HNVf. About 54% of the latter set of tetrads partly or wholly coincided with Natura 2000 sites; about 84% partly or wholly coincided with NPWS priority areas for conservation of biodiversity in agri-environment schemes, and about 53% were in upland areas ( > 150 m a.s.l.). Validation data representing extensive farmland systems had an increasing incidence in tetrads with higher values (HNVf likelihood); the opposite was true for validation data representing intensive farmland. The final output was combined with the NPWS priority areas for farmland biodiversity conservation because the latter represented Type 3 HNV that is poorly represented by our method (which best represents Type 1 HNV). To our knowledge, this study represents the most comprehensive method to estimate and validate the extent and distribution of HNVf in the Republic of Ireland. It indicates that a substantially higher proportion of the country is likely to comprise HNVf than previously estimated, and large areas of HNVf occur outside the Natura 2000 network, and in lowland areas. Improved knowledge of the distribution and extent of HNVf provides a valuable tool to help improve the decision-making process for policy targeting, implementation and monitoring of HNVf. The methodology presented here could be adapted by other EU countries that have relevant national-scale datasets.

Concerns over the loss of biodiversity and ecosystem services in farmland have prompted the development of agri-environment policy measures aimed at reducing farming pressure and maintaining semi-natural habitats in farmed landscapes. However, further knowledge is needed to guarantee successful agri-environment measures implementation. The current study assessed the quantity and the quality of semi-natural habitats in farms across a gradient of farming intensities in two contrasting regions in Ireland. Policy protection seemed fundamental for semi-natural habitats preservation. Habitats not protected by agricultural policy relied on extensive farming and are in danger of disappearing if they are intensified or abandoned. Due to the lack of policy incentives for habitat quality, no correlations were found between farming intensity and share of semi-natural habitats with habitat quality. Therefore, extensive farming and retention of habitats alone may not reverse the decline of farmland quality and biodiverisity and, thus, measures incentivising the environmental quality may be more successful.

Across Europe, Greenways upcycle disused railway infrastructure into non-motorised public infrastructure, often with limited consideration to potential ecological synergies. Pre-development, disused transport corridors become relatively undisturbed and potentially host diverse semi-natural habitats. The study objectives were 1) to produce a highly detailed and accurate dataset using remote sensing with rapid assessment techniques for ground truthing and 2) subsequently examine habitat diversity existing along a proposed Greenway. A 7000 ha study corridor was based on a disused railway proposed as a transfrontier Greenway connecting the Republic of Ireland and the United Kingdom. The study applied a rapid-assessment virtual validation techniquealongside remote sensing and accuracy assessment. Inter-relationship between seminatural habitat diversity and land-use intensification was examined. Remote sensing accuracies of 89% and 99% for a real and linear habitat classification were obtained. Degrees of land-use intensification were observed throughout the corridor, highlighting the importance of maintaining and enhancing remaining semi-natural habitat that exists along the proposed Greenway route. Through understanding the landscape matrix composition and semi-natural habitat diversity, European Greenwayscan achieve multi-functionality for ecosystem conservation, forming integral components of Green Infrastructure.

Over the past decades, Western European hedgerows have been declining as a result of land use change. Disused infrastructure corridors such as railways and tramways can host a range of existing and returning semi-natural habitats, including extensive hedgerow networks. However, long term corridor abandonment can result in network deterioration to gappy hedgerows, lines of trees and eventually individual scrub features. The loss of hedgerows results in the loss of many ecosystem services, habitat for species and landscape connectivity. This highlights an increasing need to find innovative solutions to recognise and appropriately maintain these hedgerow networks. European Greenways typically 'upcycle' disused infrastructure transport corridors for multiuse, non-motorised recreational public infrastructure. The potential for European greenways to maintain and restore hedgerows is of interest as a novel planning mechanism for enhancing green infrastructure in general. The aim of this study is to inform Greenway design and management through the evaluation of hedgerow significance (historical, ecological and landscape), condition and composition within a rural European Greenway landscape context. 81 hedgerows were sampled along a 70 km proposed Greenway route traversing a range of extensive and intensive landscapes. Hedgerows were surveyed using a rapid field score sheet which enabled significance and condition scoring. A hedgerow typology was subsequently developed based on species composition assemblages. Hedgerows were found to be highly ecologically significant and species rich throughout the route. On-going land use intensification was evident as significant sections of the former railway corridor were subsumed into intensive agriculture and afforestation. Management recommendations need to be adapted to the particular hedgerow group and surrounding landscape context, and take into account the varied requirements of different taxonomic groups. The study findings show Greenways have the potential to act as multifunctional green infrastructure (accomplishing both ecological and recreational objectives) through informed design to reinforce their nature conservation role and recognising hedgerows as integral landscape feature of Greenway corridor, at local level and as part of a wider European network.

European Greenway developments typically 'upcycle' disused transport corridors for multi-use, non-motorised public infrastructure. The linear and relatively undisturbed nature of these disused infrastructures means many currently function as high quality ecological corridors. Corridors providing connectivity among habitat patches can mitigate the effects of fragmentation on biodiversity, allowing species dispersal throughout the landscape matrix. The sustainable integration of Greenway infrastructure and ecological corridor functions requires consideration during design, development and maintenance stages, taking into account surrounding landscape composition and connectivity. This paper presents a method to characterise a proposed Greenway corridor landscape, focusing on habitat composition and ecosystems connectivity. Morphological Spatial Pattern Analysis (MSPA) was used to comprehensively describe the structural connectivity of linear and spatial habitats occurring within the study area. A subsequent multivariate classification of structural connectivity and habitat data determined six distinctive landscape characters. Interpretation of these landscape characters highlights the principal habitat compositions and connectivity conditions in terms of habitat core, links and potential linkages. For example one landscape was intensified, yet retained high woodland connectivity, while another diverse habitat landscape supported little connectivity for woodland and grasslands. The results of this study suggest significant opportunities exist to enhance European landscape connectivity through informed Greenway development. Crucial habitat linkages can be optimised along Greenway infrastructure, contributing towards the realisation of European Greenways as Green Infrastructure and true sustainable projects.