ALCR02298: Detailed Agricultural Land Classification Survey for Milton Keynes, 1989-1999

Post-1988 Agricultural Land Classification (ALC) site survey data for the Milton Keynes Exp Study, Area 9, Whaddon. 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 the grading methodology from the 'Agricultural Land Classification of England and Wales' guidelines. Unedited sample point soils data and soil pit descriptions are also available for some surveys.

Use Cases

• Analyze historical agricultural land quality based on the detailed grading methodology described in the survey reports.
• Map land capability for agriculture based on the subdivision of Grade 3 into subgrades 3a and 3b.
• Correlate soil pit descriptions and unedited sample point data with land classification grades for specific sites.
• Study changes in land use potential using surveys mapped at scales from 1:5,000 to 1:50,000.

Strengths

• Data is based on the current grading methodology as described in the official 'Agricultural Land Classification of England and Wales' guidelines.
• Includes the subdivision of Grade 3 into subgrades 3a and 3b, providing more detailed classification.
• Contains original scanned maps and reports, preserving the detail of the primary survey work.
• Some surveys include unedited sample point soils data and soil pit descriptions.

Limitations

• Description metadata is limited; actual data quality requires manual inspection after download.
• Last update date is unknown; freshness unverified.
• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.

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 captured in paper maps and reports later scanned.

Time Range

1989 to 1999

Freshness

Survey data is from 1989-1999; last update is unknown.

Geography

Milton Keynes Exp Study, Area 9, Whaddon, England