Agricultural Land Classification Survey for Barton Stacey, 1989-1999

Post-1988 Agricultural Land Classification (ALC) survey data for the Barton Stacey, Wades Farm site in Test Valley. The dataset includes scanned original paper maps and survey reports produced by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food between 1989 and 1999. It uses the grading methodology from 'Agricultural Land Classification of England and Wales' and may contain 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 quality for specific sites using the available unedited sample point and soil pit data.
• Map land use suitability at varying scales (from 1:5,000 to 1:50,000) for regional planning and agricultural development.
• Study historical land classification practices and data collection methods from the late 20th century.

Strengths

• Provides detailed subdivision of Grade 3 land into subgrades 3a and 3b, offering finer granularity.
• Includes original scanned maps and reports, preserving the primary survey documentation.
• Surveys were conducted using a standardized national methodology ('Agricultural Land Classification of England and Wales').

Limitations

• Row count and column-level documentation are unknown; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• Last update date is unknown; freshness unverified.
• Data may reflect geographic and temporal bias specific to surveys conducted in England between 1989 and 1999.

Provenance

Source

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

Collection Method

Detailed site surveys involving mapping and soil analysis, following the national ALC methodology.

Time Range

1989 to 1999

Freshness

Data collection occurred between 1989 and 1999; last update date is unknown.

Geography

Barton Stacey, Wades Farm, Test Valley, England