Agricultural Land Classification Survey for Lymington, Pinetops (1989-1999)

Post 1988 Agricultural Land Classification (ALC) site survey data for the Lymington, Pinetops site in the New Forest. The data 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, using a grading methodology that subdivides Grade 3 into 3a and 3b. Some surveys also 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 variability using the unedited sample point soils data and pit descriptions.
• Map land use suitability for planning or conservation based on the scanned geospatial survey maps.
• Study historical land quality trends in England from the late 1980s to the late 1990s.

Strengths

• Includes the subdivision of Grade 3 land into subgrades 3a and 3b, providing finer detail.
• Contains both scanned geospatial maps (at scales from 1:5,000 to 1:50,000) and textual survey reports.
• Some surveys include unedited sample point soils data and soil pit descriptions.

Limitations

• Row count, column definitions, and file formats are unknown; data structure must be inspected after download.
• Last update date is unknown; freshness unverified.
• Data is sourced from paper maps and reports scanned between 1989 and 1999, which may reflect the methodologies and biases of that period.

Provenance

Source

Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food; data provided via Natural England and the Government Digital Service.

Collection Method

Detailed site surveys conducted by the Ministry, with original paper maps and reports subsequently scanned.

Time Range

1989 to 1999

Freshness

Survey data collected between 1989 and 1999; last update date for the digital record is unknown.

Geography

Lymington, Pinetops site in the New Forest, England.