Agricultural Land Classification: Detailed Site Surveys for England and Wales, 1989-1999
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Description
England and Wales agricultural land surveys conducted by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food between 1989 and 1999. The dataset includes scanned original paper maps and reports for individual sites, with land graded using the official methodology, including subdivisions of Grade 3. Data was mapped at scales from 1:5,000 to 1:50,000, and some surveys include unedited soil point data and pit descriptions.
Use Cases
Classify historical agricultural land capability based on the official grading methodology described in the survey reports.
Analyze soil characteristics and variability for specific sites based on the available point soils data and pit descriptions.
Map land use suitability changes over time by comparing detailed site surveys from the 1989-1999 period.
Integrate historical land classification data with modern GIS layers for longitudinal environmental studies.
Strengths
Uses the official 'Agricultural Land Classification of England and Wales' grading methodology, ensuring a standardized approach.
Includes subdivision of Grade 3 into subgrades 3a and 3b, providing finer detail for moderate-quality land.
Contains original scanned maps and reports, preserving the primary survey record.
Some surveys include supplementary unedited sample point soils data and soil pit descriptions.
Limitations
Row count and file size are unknown, which may limit suitability assessment for large-scale ML projects.
Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
Last update date is unknown; freshness unverified.
Provenance
Source
Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (UK), via Natural England and the Government Digital Service.
Collection Method
Detailed site surveys involving field mapping and soil analysis, with results compiled into paper maps and reports later scanned.
Time Range
1989 to 1999
Freshness
Data collection occurred between 1989 and 1999; last update status is unknown.
Geography
England and Wales, specifically the Ivinghoe Aston survey site.