ALCR01190: Post-1988 Agricultural Land Classification Survey for England and Wales

England and Wales agricultural land classification data from detailed site surveys conducted between 1989 and 1999 by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. The dataset includes scanned original paper maps and survey reports, with land graded according to the official methodology, including subdivisions of Grade 3. Survey scales range from 1:5,000 to 1:50,000, and some surveys include unedited soil sample point data and pit descriptions.

Use Cases

• Analyze historical land quality for planning decisions based on the detailed agricultural land grading system.
• Map soil and land capability changes over time based on the 1989-1999 survey period.
• Integrate detailed soil pit descriptions and sample point data for localized agricultural studies.
• Compare land classification at varying scales (1:5,000 to 1:50,000) for regional versus site-specific analysis.

Strengths

• Uses the official grading methodology described in 'Agricultural Land Classification of England and Wales'.
• Includes subdivision of Grade 3 into subgrades 3a and 3b for finer detail.
• Contains original scanned maps and reports, preserving the primary survey data.
• Some surveys include unedited soil sample point data and soil pit descriptions.

Limitations

• Row count and column-level documentation are absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• Last update date is unknown; data is historical (1989-1999) and freshness unverified.
• Survey scales and level of detail vary from 1:5,000 to 1:50,000, which may affect consistency.

Provenance

Source

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

Collection Method

Detailed site surveys with soil analysis, mapping, and report generation.

Time Range

1989 to 1999

Freshness

Historical data from 1989-1999; last update date is unknown.

Geography

England and Wales, specifically the Pennington, Manor Farm site.