Agricultural Land Classification Survey: Beenham Site with Soil Data

Agricultural Land Classification (ALC) detailed survey data for the Beenham, Bath Road site. The dataset includes scanned original paper maps and survey 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' guidelines 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 properties and characteristics based on the available unedited sample point soils data and pit descriptions.
• Map historical land quality for specific sites based on the scanned original paper maps at scales from 1:5,000 to 1:50,000.

Strengths

• Includes the subdivision of Grade 3 land into subgrades 3a and 3b, providing finer detail.
• Original survey materials such as scanned maps and reports are available for the individual site.
• Some surveys contain unedited sample point soils 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; freshness unverified.
• Data may reflect temporal bias inherent to the 1989-1999 survey period.

Provenance

Source

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

Collection Method

Detailed site surveys involving mapping and soil analysis.

Time Range

1989 to 1999

Freshness

Last updated is unknown; data is from surveys conducted 1989-1999.

Geography

Beenham, Bath Road (Newbury LP Site 36), England.