Agricultural Land Classification Survey for Aylesbury Vale, 1989-1999

Aylesbury Vale survey data from the UK's Post-1988 Agricultural Land Classification (ALC) program. The dataset includes scanned original paper maps and reports for sites surveyed in detail between 1989 and 1999 by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. It uses the grading methodology from the 'Agricultural Land Classification of England and Wales' guidelines and may contain unedited sample point soils data and soil pit descriptions.

Use Cases

• Classify land capability for agriculture based on the detailed grading methodology described in the survey reports.
• Analyze historical soil quality trends based on unedited sample point soils data and soil pit descriptions.
• Map agricultural land grades, including the subdivision of Grade 3 into subgrades 3a and 3b, for regional planning.
• Integrate historical land classification data with modern GIS layers for longitudinal land-use studies.

Strengths

• Data is based on a formal, published grading methodology ('Agricultural Land Classification of England and Wales').
• Includes the subdivision of Grade 3 into subgrades 3a and 3b, providing finer detail.
• Original scanned maps and reports provide primary source material for verification.

Limitations

• Row count, column-level documentation, and file formats are unknown; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• Last update date is unknown; freshness unverified.
• Maps were created at varying scales (from 1:5,000 to 1:50,000), which may affect consistency and precision.

Provenance

Source

Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (UK), managed by Natural England and the Government Digital Service.

Collection Method

Detailed site surveys conducted by government surveyors, with results recorded on paper maps and in reports.

Time Range

1989 to 1999

Freshness

Survey data is from 1989-1999; last update date for the digital record is unknown.

Geography

Aylesbury Vale (Watermead), United Kingdom