Quote:
Originally Posted by jamicu  The first definitely comes under "something to bookmark for next year" OpenStreetMap
This is an editable or wiki style map, set up a couple of years ago as a direct response to Ordinance Surveys monopoly of mapping data in the UK. It started up, as the name suggests, to map out streets and was dominated by cyclists. But there are no restrictions on what can be mapped and open areas are beginning to be mapped. |
I've become a big fan of OpenStreetMap since getting a GPS (Garmin) for Christmas. Don't wait for next year! If you have a GPS, or know a local patch well, I'd recommend not just using it, but contributing to it. Its usefulness increases the more people contribute to it. What's more you can put the stuff which is important to you (e.g., bird hides).
As an example, whilst away in Italy I was downloading traces from one day and re-building the map for my GPS for the next day. I now have all the little paths which the OS will never map for various local patches. Together with the ability to waypoint locations it makes life so much easier to re-find things. BUT more than this: it's fun (and addictive)!
Coverage is patchy: much better in the South East and probably better in cities. So its not yet the resource for wildlife places in the North and West.
posch