ALCR06298: Agricultural Land Classification Survey Maps and Reports

England and Wales agricultural land classification data from detailed site surveys conducted between 1989 and 1999 by the Ministry of Agriculture Fisheries and Food. The dataset includes scanned original paper maps and survey reports, with mapping scales ranging from 1:5,000 to 1:50,000. Some surveys also contain unedited sample point soils data and soil pit descriptions.

Use Cases

• Analyze agricultural land quality based on detailed soil classification grades.
• Map historical land use potential based on scanned survey maps and reports.
• Compare soil subgrades within Grade 3 land based on the subdivision into 3a and 3b.
• Study soil characteristics based on available unedited sample point data and pit descriptions.

Strengths

• Survey data uses the current grading methodology as described in the official 'Agricultural Land Classification of England and Wales'.
• Individual sites have been mapped at varying scales and levels of detail, from 1:5,000 to 1:50,000.
• The dataset includes the subdivision of Grade 3 land into subgrades 3a and 3b.

Limitations

• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• Row count is unknown, which may limit suitability assessment.
• Last update date is unknown; freshness unverified.

Provenance

Source

Government Digital Service

Collection Method

Scanned original paper maps and survey reports from detailed site surveys.

Time Range

1989-1999

Geography

England and Wales