ALCR00193: Post-1988 Agricultural Land Classification Survey for Haywards Heath

Post 1988 Agricultural Land Classification (ALC) site survey data for the Haywards Heath, South West area. The dataset includes scanned original paper maps and survey reports for sites surveyed in detail between 1989 and 1999 by the Ministry of Agriculture Fisheries and Food. It uses the grading methodology from 'Agricultural Land Classification of England and Wales' and may contain unedited sample point soils data and soil pit descriptions.

Use Cases

• Classify agricultural land capability based on the detailed grading methodology described in the survey reports.
• Analyze soil characteristics and quality for specific sites based on available soil pit descriptions and sample point data.
• Map land use suitability for planning and development based on the scanned geospatial maps at scales from 1:5,000 to 1:50,000.
• Study historical land quality trends in England for sites surveyed between 1989 and 1999.

Strengths

• Provides detailed land classification including the subdivision of Grade 3 into subgrades 3a and 3b.
• Includes original scanned maps and reports, preserving methodological transparency from the referenced official guidelines.
• Contains unedited sample point soils data and soil pit descriptions for some surveys, offering raw observational data.

Limitations

• Row count, file formats, and column-level documentation are unknown; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• Last update date is unknown; freshness unverified.
• Data may reflect geographic and temporal bias inherent to the specific survey sites and the 1989-1999 collection period.

Provenance

Source

Ministry of Agriculture Fisheries and Food (survey), Natural England and Ordnance Survey (copyright).

Collection Method

Detailed site surveys conducted between 1989 and 1999, with results compiled into paper maps and reports later scanned.

Time Range

1989 to 1999

Freshness

null

Geography

Haywards Heath, South West, England