ALCR01997: Detailed Agricultural Land Classification Survey for Hordle, 1989-1999

Agricultural Land Classification survey data for the Hordle, Downlands Farm site in the New Forest. The dataset includes scanned original paper maps and reports from detailed site surveys conducted between 1989 and 1999 by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. It uses the grading methodology from the 'Agricultural Land Classification of England and Wales' report and may contain unedited soil sample point data and pit descriptions.

Use Cases

• Classify agricultural land capability based on the detailed grading methodology described in the survey reports.
• Analyze soil characteristics and variability for a specific site using the available point soils data and pit descriptions.
• Map land quality subdivisions, such as Grade 3a and 3b, based on the scanned original survey maps.
• Assess historical land use suitability for planning or conservation purposes within the surveyed geographic area.

Strengths

• Data is based on the established 'Agricultural Land Classification of England and Wales' methodology.
• Includes subdivision of Grade 3 into subgrades 3a and 3b for finer granularity.
• Original survey maps and reports provide detailed, on-the-ground assessment context.

Limitations

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

Provenance

Source

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

Collection Method

Detailed field surveys with maps created at scales from 1:5,000 to 1:50,000.

Time Range

1989 to 1999

Freshness

Survey data is from 1989-1999; last update date for the digital record is unknown.

Geography

Hordle, Downlands Farm (New Forest District Local Plan Objective Site 10), England.