Agricultural Land Classification Survey for Long Hanborough North, 1989-1999

Post-1988 Agricultural Land Classification (ALC) survey data for the Long Hanborough North site, collected by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food between 1989 and 1999. The dataset includes scanned original paper maps and survey reports, with some surveys also containing unedited sample point soils data and soil pit descriptions. It uses the grading methodology from the 'Agricultural Land Classification of England and Wales' publication.

Use Cases

• Classify agricultural land capability based on the detailed grading methodology described in the survey reports.
• Analyze soil characteristics and subgrades for Grade 3 land using the available soil pit descriptions and sample point data.
• Map historical land use potential at varying scales (from 1:5,000 to 1:50,000) for regional planning studies.

Strengths

• Includes the subdivision of Grade 3 land into subgrades 3a and 3b, providing finer detail.
• Original survey maps and reports are available, preserving methodological transparency.
• Some surveys contain unedited sample point soils data and soil pit descriptions.

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 (MAFF), via Natural England and the Government Digital Service.

Collection Method

Detailed site surveys conducted by MAFF, with results captured in paper maps and reports that were later scanned.

Time Range

1989 to 1999

Freshness

Data covers surveys from 1989 to 1999; last update date is unknown.

Geography

Long Hanborough North, England and Wales