Agricultural Land Classification Survey Maps and Reports, 1989-1999

Survey data collected between 1989 and 1999 by the Ministry of Agriculture Fisheries and Food for the Alderholt, Bleak Hill site under the Hampshire minerals plan. It includes scanned original paper maps and survey reports detailing Agricultural Land Classification (ALC) grades, including subdivisions of Grade 3. The data is provided by Natural England and contains Ordnance Survey data.

Use Cases

• Mapping agricultural land quality based on detailed ALC grades and subgrades.
• Analyzing soil characteristics based on unedited sample point soils data and soil pit descriptions.
• Historical land use planning based on site-specific survey reports and maps.
• Comparing land classification methodologies using the referenced grading system.

Strengths

• Original survey maps and reports scanned from paper sources provide primary data.
• Classification uses a defined methodology described in 'Agricultural Land Classification of England and Wales'.
• Some surveys include unedited sample point soils data and soil pit descriptions.

Limitations

• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• Row count is unknown, which may limit suitability assessment.
• Data may reflect geographic and temporal bias inherent to the specific survey period and site.

Provenance

Source

Government Digital Service / Natural England

Collection Method

Detailed site surveys conducted by the Ministry of Agriculture Fisheries and Food.

Time Range

1989-1999

Geography

Alderholt, Bleak Hill (Hampshire, England)