Cultural services

Cultural services are the non-material benefits people gain from ecosystems. Soils shape the landscapes we value for recreation and tourism — from coastal dunes and heathland to woodland walks and farmland footpaths. The texture, colour, and drainage of soil influence which plants grow where, creating the aesthetic and sense of place that define familiar British countryside.

Soils hold cultural heritage: archaeological remains are preserved (or destroyed) by burial conditions, acidity, and moisture. School visits, field studies, and citizen science on soil profiles support education and learning; long-term soil surveys contribute to scientific knowledge. Access to green space and contact with living landscapes also supports mental health and wellbeing — a service increasingly recognised in urban and rural planning.

Because cultural services often depend on healthy, visible ecosystems above ground, they are easily overlooked when soil is treated only as a production medium. Protecting soil from sealing, contamination, and erosion helps maintain the landscapes and heritage that communities identify with.