Agricultural Land Classification Survey: Armthorpe Quarry, 1989-1999

England and Wales agricultural land classification data from detailed site surveys conducted by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food between 1989 and 1999. The dataset for the Armthorpe Quarry site includes scanned original paper maps, survey reports, and for some surveys, unedited sample point soils data and soil pit descriptions. It uses the grading methodology described in the 'Agricultural Land Classification of England and Wales' guidelines.

Use Cases

• Classify agricultural land capability based on the detailed grading methodology described in the survey reports.
• Analyze historical soil characteristics based on the unedited sample point soils data and pit descriptions.
• Map land quality subdivisions, such as Grade 3a and 3b, based on the scanned original paper maps.
• Assess land use suitability for planning or environmental impact studies based on the site-specific survey data.

Strengths

• Includes detailed subdivision of Grade 3 land into subgrades 3a and 3b.
• Contains original survey materials like scanned paper maps and reports for individual sites.
• Some surveys include unedited sample point soils data and soil pit descriptions.

Limitations

• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• Row count is unknown, which may limit suitability assessment.
• Last update date is unknown; freshness unverified.

Provenance

Source

Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAFF), via Natural England and the Government Digital Service.

Collection Method

Detailed site surveys with mapping at scales from 1:5,000 to 1:50,000, typically 1:10,000.

Time Range

1989 to 1999

Freshness

Data collection occurred between 1989 and 1999; last update is unknown.

Geography

England and Wales, specifically the Armthorpe Quarry site.