ALCC00990c: Post-1988 Agricultural Land Classification Survey Maps and Reports

Survey data collected between 1989 and 1999 by the Ministry of Agriculture Fisheries and Food for detailed site assessments. It includes scanned original paper maps and survey reports for individual sites, with grading methodology based on the 'Agricultural Land Classification of England and Wales' guidelines. Unedited sample point soils data and soil pit descriptions are also available for some surveys.

Use Cases

• Analyze historical agricultural land quality based on detailed site survey reports.
• Map land classification grades, including Grade 3 subdivisions, based on scanned original paper maps.
• Study soil properties based on unedited sample point soils data and soil pit descriptions.

Strengths

• Survey data collected over a 10-year period (1989-1999).
• Maps include subdivision of Grade 3 into subgrades 3a and 3b.
• Survey methodology is documented and linked to official guidelines.

Limitations

• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• Row count is unknown, which may limit suitability assessment.
• Data may reflect geographic and temporal bias inherent to the specific survey sites.

Provenance

Source

Government Digital Service

Collection Method

Scanned original paper maps and survey reports from detailed site surveys.

Time Range

1989-1999

Geography

England and Wales (specific sites like Mepal, Block Fen - Site 3)