Agricultural Land Classification detailed Post 1988 survey ALCR10393

Post-1988 Agricultural Land Classification (ALC) survey data from the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food includes scanned original paper maps and reports for sites surveyed between 1989 and 1999. The data uses the current grading methodology, subdividing Grade 3 into 3a and 3b, and includes unedited soil point data and pit descriptions for some surveys. It is provided by Natural England and contains Ordnance Survey data under Crown copyright.

Use Cases

• Classify agricultural land capability based on the detailed grading methodology described in the survey reports.
• Analyze soil characteristics and variability using the unedited sample point soils data and pit descriptions.
• Map land quality for planning and development assessments based on the scanned original paper maps at scales from 1:5,000 to 1:50,000.
• Study historical land use changes by comparing the 1989-1999 survey period with contemporary data.

Strengths

• Data follows the established grading methodology from the 'Agricultural Land Classification of England and Wales' publication.
• Includes subdivision of Grade 3 into subgrades 3a and 3b, providing finer detail for moderate quality land.
• Some surveys contain unedited sample point soils data and soil pit descriptions for direct analysis.

Limitations

• Row count, column names, and file formats are unknown, which may limit suitability assessment.
• Data is derived from scanned original paper maps and reports from 1989-1999; freshness is unverified.
• Mapping scales and level of detail vary from 1:5,000 to 1:50,000, which may affect consistency.

Provenance

Source

Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food; provided by Natural England.

Collection Method

Detailed site surveys conducted between 1989 and 1999, with results recorded on paper maps and in reports.

Time Range

1989 to 1999

Freshness

Last update date is unknown; data covers the period 1989-1999.

Geography

England and Wales, with a specific example site being Isle Of Sheppey, Scocles Road.