ALCR01196: Detailed Agricultural Land Classification Survey for England and Wales

Post 1988 Agricultural Land Classification (ALC) site survey data for Hoo St Werburgh, Bell's Lane (Medway Towns LP Site 46). 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, with some surveys also containing unedited sample point soils data and soil pit descriptions. Surveys use the grading methodology from 'Agricultural Land Classification of England and Wales' and were mapped at scales from 1:5,000 to 1:50,000.

Use Cases

• Analyzing historical land quality for planning decisions based on detailed Agricultural Land Classification grades.
• Mapping soil characteristics and land capability based on survey reports and soil pit descriptions.
• Studying changes in agricultural land use potential based on site-specific surveys from 1989-1999.

Strengths

• Includes the subdivision of Grade 3 into subgrades 3a and 3b, providing finer detail.
• Original survey materials such as scanned maps and reports are preserved.
• Some surveys contain unedited sample point soils data and soil pit descriptions.

Limitations

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

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 maps and reports.

Time Range

1989 to 1999

Freshness

Survey data is from 1989 to 1999; last update for the dataset is unknown.

Geography

Hoo St Werburgh, Bell's Lane (Medway Towns, England).