ALCR05298: Detailed Agricultural Land Classification Survey Maps and Reports, 1989-1999

Scanned original paper maps and survey reports from the Post 1988 Agricultural Land Classification (ALC) detailed site surveys. The data covers the Eynsham survey area, with individual sites mapped between 1989 and 1999 by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. Surveys use the grading methodology from "Agricultural Land Classification of England and Wales" and include soil data and pit descriptions for some sites.

Use Cases

• Analyzing historical land quality for planning decisions based on the Agricultural Land Classification grades.
• Studying soil characteristics and variability based on the unedited sample point soils data and pit descriptions.
• Comparing land capability over time based on the standardized grading methodology used from 1989 to 1999.
• Integrating detailed site survey data with broader land use maps based on the geospatial map scans.

Strengths

• Uses the current, standardized Agricultural Land Classification grading methodology as described in the official guideline document.
• Includes subdivision of Grade 3 into subgrades 3a and 3b for more granular analysis.
• Contains supplementary unedited sample point soils data and soil pit descriptions for some surveys.

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; data provided by Natural England and contains Ordnance Survey data.

Collection Method

Detailed site surveys involving original paper maps and reports, later scanned.

Time Range

1989 to 1999

Freshness

Data collection occurred between 1989 and 1999; last update is unknown.

Geography

Eynsham survey area, England