Agricultural Land Classification Survey: Caversham Play Hatch, 1989-1999

Post-1988 Agricultural Land Classification (ALC) survey data for the Caversham Play Hatch site, collected by the Ministry of Agriculture Fisheries and Food between 1989 and 1999. The dataset includes scanned original paper maps, survey reports, and for some surveys, unedited sample point soils data and soil pit descriptions. It is provided by Natural England and contains Ordnance Survey data.

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 quality at varying scales (from 1:5,000 to 1:50,000) for regional planning and environmental impact studies.
• Study the subdivision of Grade 3 land into subgrades 3a and 3b for more precise agricultural potential assessment.

Strengths

• Uses the current Agricultural Land Classification grading methodology as described in the official guidelines.
• Includes detailed subdivision of Grade 3 land into subgrades 3a and 3b.
• Contains original scanned maps and reports, preserving the primary survey data.

Limitations

• Row count, file formats, and column-level documentation are unknown; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• Last update date is unknown; freshness unverified.
• Data may reflect temporal bias inherent to the 1989-1999 collection period.

Provenance

Source

Ministry of Agriculture Fisheries and Food (survey), Natural England and Ordnance Survey (data provision).

Collection Method

Detailed site surveys involving mapping, soil sampling, and report generation.

Time Range

1989 to 1999

Freshness

Last updated date is unknown.

Geography

Caversham, Play Hatch, England and Wales (implied by methodology reference)