################# Read me file for the biodiversity data used in the following manuscript: ################## Journal of Applied Ecology "Experimental evidence that novel land management interventions inspired by history enhance biodiversity" Robert W. Hawkes1,2*; Jennifer Smart2,3; Andy Brown4; Helen Jones2; Steve A. Lane5; Colin Lucas6; James McGill7; Nick Owens8; Amanda Ratier Backes9; Jon R. Webb4; Doreen Wells10; and Paul M. Dolman1 1 School of Environmental Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich, NR4 7TJ, UK 2 RSPB Centre for Conservation Science, The Lodge, Sandy, Bedfordshire, SG19 2DL, UK 3 School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich, NR4 7TJ, UK 4 Natural England, Suite D, Unex House, Bourges Boulevard, Peterborough, PE1 1NG, UK 5 5 Lancaster Way, East Winch, King's Lynn, PE32 1NY, UK 6 49 Mill Road, Beccles, NR34 9UT, UK 7 13 Cresswell Avenue, Taunton, TA2 6LS, UK 8 22 Springfield Close, Weybourne, Holt, NR25 7TB, UK 9 Institute of Biology/Geobotany and Botanical Garden, Martin Luther University Halle‐Wittenberg, Halle (Saale), Germany 10 1 Cobden Terrace, Great Yarmouth, NR30 1BT, UK * Corresponding author ###### Meta data for "Dataset.csv" ###### This dataset comprises all the biodiversity records analysed in this manuscript. Each row is a record, and each column is a record attribute (see below). The records are order alphabetically by taxon group, order, family and species. Please note, although sampled taxa were identified to species level, the few unresolved plants (0.3%), spiders (<0.1%), ground, rove and other beetles (<0.1%, 3.5%, 1.0%), true bugs (3.7%), and bees and wasps (0.9%) are not included in this dataset. ### Record attributes ### Taxon_group Order Family Species Collection_date: For invertebrates, this is day that the pitfall or pan trap was collected. For plants, this is the period when the botanical surveys were undertaken Complex_ID: Unique identity of each treatment complex or control plot Subtreatment_ID: Unique identify of each sub-treatment or control plot Abundance Treatment: Treatment identify at the complex or control level. Three levels. See methods for details Subtreatment: Treatment identify at the subtreatment or control level. Nine levels. See methods for details Grassland_strata: Four levels, see methods for details Recorder Determiner Collection_method: Three levels; ‘pitfall’, ‘pan trap’, ‘quadrat’ Unique_record_ID: Unique identifier for each record Status: Two levels; ‘non-priority’ or ‘priority’. See methods for details Broad_habitat_association: Three levels; ‘dry-open’, ‘unknown/wet/shaded’, ‘not assessed’. The ‘not assessed’ category comprises all the plant records – which were omitted from the habitat and management guild analyses Habitat_guild: Five levels; ‘tall swards and scrub’, ‘short swards’, ‘short swards and bare ground’, ‘unknown or undifferentiated’ structural requirements, and ‘not assessed’. The ‘not assessed’ category comprises all plant records and all records where the broad habitat association is either ‘unknown/wet/shaded’ or ‘not assessed’ Management_guild: Seven levels; ‘N_DIS/N_GRZ’ (no physical-disturbance and no/light grazing), ‘L_DIS/N_GRZ’ (light physical-disturbance and no/light grazing), ‘H_DIS/N_GRZ’ (heavy physical-disturbance and no/light grazing), ‘N_DIS/H_GRZ’ (no physical-disturbance and heavy grazing), ‘H_DIS/H_GRZ’ (heavy physical-disturbance and heavy grazing), ‘unknown or undifferentiated’ requirements for grazing and physical-disturbance, or ‘not assessed’. The ‘not assessed’ category comprises all plant records, all non-priority species, and all records where the broad habitat association is either ‘unknown/wet/shaded’ or ‘not assessed’ ### location data ### Precise data on each records location is sensitive and has been excluded from this dataset. If this information is needed, please contact the corresponding author