ALCR11296: Detailed Agricultural Land Classification Survey Maps and Reports, 1989-1999

Post-1988 Agricultural Land Classification (ALC) survey data for the Finchampstead, Warren Lane site, including scanned original paper maps and reports. The data was gathered by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food between 1989 and 1999, using the grading methodology from the official 'Agricultural Land Classification of England and Wales' guidelines. Some surveys also include 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 variability using the available unedited sample point soils data.
• Map historical land quality for specific sites like Finchampstead based on the scanned original paper maps.
• Study changes in land classification over time within the 1989-1999 survey period.

Strengths

• Uses the official 'Agricultural Land Classification of England and Wales' grading methodology, ensuring a standardized approach.
• Includes detailed subdivision of Grade 3 land into subgrades 3a and 3b for finer granularity.
• Contains both geospatial map data (scanned at scales from 1:5,000 to 1:50,000) and textual survey reports.

Limitations

• Row count, column definitions, and file formats are unknown, limiting suitability assessment.
• Last update date is unknown; freshness unverified.
• Data is sourced from scanned original paper maps, which may introduce digitization artifacts or require manual interpretation.

Provenance

Source

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

Collection Method

Detailed site surveys conducted between 1989 and 1999, with results captured in paper maps and reports that were later scanned.

Time Range

1989 to 1999

Freshness

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

Geography

Finchampstead, Warren Lane (Wokingham DLP Site Fi3), England