06 July 2007

Ordnance Survey puts nation’s world heritage on the map

Ordnance Survey, the nation’s official mapping agency, is proud to begin highlighting Great Britain’s World Heritage sites in celebration of the country’s magnificent built and natural landscape.

There are 23 World Heritage sites in Great Britain, including Canterbury Cathedral, Hadrian’s Wall and the city of Edinburgh, all of which will now be specially highlighted on Ordnance Survey’s famous and much-loved paper maps. 

The OS Landranger Maps, OS Explorer Maps, OS Travel Maps – Road and Tour will now display the whereabouts of these outstanding national assets using a new blue tourist symbol based on the World Heritage logo. It is hoped that by highlighting sites of world renowned significance – like Stonehenge in Wiltshire, and the Ironbridge Gorge in Shropshire – it will encourage people to visit and enjoy them.

David Wright, MP for Telford and Chair of the All‑Party Group on World Heritage Sites, says, "I am delighted that Ordnance Survey has decided to raise the profile of World Heritage Sites in Great Britain, by identifying them not only on the actual map but also in a prominent position on the cover of their published OS Landranger and OS Explorer series".

World Heritage is part of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), which seeks to encourage the identification, protection and preservation of cultural and natural heritage around the world.

Peter ter Haar, Ordnance Survey’s Director of Products, commented, "This is an excellent addition to our series of much-loved and admired paper maps. This country’s sites of cultural and natural heritage are an irreplaceable legacy and a source of inspiration for the thousands of people who visit them every year. I hope that by highlighting these places we can help an even wider audience to enjoy them."

For more information, and to see the full range of Ordnance Survey’s paper map series, visit www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/leisure

Notes to editors

Ordnance Survey, the OS Symbol, Explorer, Landranger and OS are registered trademarks of Ordnance Survey.

There are 27 World Heritage sites within the UK, including those within UK dependencies across the world; however, as the national mapping agency of Great Britain, only the sites within Great Britain will appear on Ordnance Survey mapping. A full UK list is available at www.ukworldheritage.org.uk

 

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Head of Corporate Communications - Rob Andrews

Email: rob.andrews@ordnancesurvey.co.uk

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