ALCR09293: Detailed Agricultural Land Classification Survey for Iwade, 1989-1999

Post 1988 Agricultural Land Classification (ALC) site survey data for the Iwade, Coleshall Farm site. The dataset includes scanned original paper maps and survey reports from detailed surveys conducted between 1989 and 1999 by the Ministry of Agriculture Fisheries and Food. It provides detailed land grading, including the subdivision of Grade 3 into subgrades 3a and 3b, and may contain unedited sample point soils data and soil pit descriptions.

Use Cases

• Analyzing historical agricultural land quality based on the detailed ALC grading methodology described in the survey reports.
• Mapping land capability for planning purposes based on the scanned original paper maps at scales from 1:5,000 to 1:50,000.
• Studying soil characteristics for specific sites based on the available unedited sample point soils data and soil pit descriptions.

Strengths

• Provides detailed land classification using the established grading methodology, including the subdivision of Grade 3 into subgrades 3a and 3b.
• Includes original scanned maps and reports, preserving the primary survey data from the 1989-1999 period.
• May contain granular soil data such as unedited sample points and pit descriptions for some surveys.

Limitations

• Description metadata is limited; actual data quality, file formats, and row count require manual inspection after download.
• Last update date is unknown; freshness unverified.
• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.

Provenance

Source

Ministry of Agriculture Fisheries and Food, via Natural England and the Government Digital Service.

Collection Method

Detailed site surveys conducted by government agricultural authorities, with results compiled into paper maps and reports later scanned.

Time Range

1989 to 1999

Freshness

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

Geography

Iwade, Coleshall Farm (Swale LP Site 3), England.