Agricultural Land Classification Survey: Andover Down Site 50 (1989-1999)

Andover Down (Test Valley) is a detailed site survey from the UK's Post-1988 Agricultural Land Classification (ALC) system. The dataset contains scanned original paper maps and survey reports for individual sites surveyed between 1989 and 1999 by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. It includes the subdivision of Grade 3 land into subgrades 3a and 3b, and for some surveys, unedited sample point soils data and soil pit descriptions.

Use Cases

• Classify agricultural land capability based on the detailed grading methodology described in the survey reports.
• Analyze soil characteristics and limitations for specific sites using the available soil pit descriptions and sample point data.
• Map land quality at varying scales (from 1:5,000 to 1:50,000) for regional planning or environmental impact assessments.
• Compare land classification over time by using surveys that apply the consistent post-1988 ALC methodology.

Strengths

• Applies a standardized national grading methodology ('Agricultural Land Classification of England and Wales').
• Includes subdivision of Grade 3 into more detailed subgrades 3a and 3b.
• Contains original survey materials (scanned maps and reports) for individual sites.
• Some surveys include supplementary unedited soils data and soil pit descriptions.

Limitations

• Row count and column-level documentation are absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• Last update date is unknown; freshness unverified.
• Data may reflect temporal and geographic bias inherent to the specific survey sites and the 1989-1999 collection period.

Provenance

Source

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

Collection Method

Detailed site surveys conducted by ministry officials, with results recorded in paper maps and reports later scanned.

Time Range

1989 to 1999

Freshness

Survey data collected between 1989 and 1999; last update unknown.

Geography

Andover Down, Test Valley, England, United Kingdom