ALCR11797: Post-1988 Agricultural Land Classification Survey for Whitchurch-on-Thames

1989 to 1999 survey data collected by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. It contains detailed Agricultural Land Classification (ALC) for the Whitchurch-on-Thames area in South Oxfordshire, including scanned original paper maps, survey reports, and some unedited soil point data. The data is provided by Natural England and uses the grading methodology from the 'Agricultural Land Classification of England and Wales' guidelines.

Use Cases

• Classify agricultural land capability based on the detailed ALC grading system mentioned in the description.
• Analyze soil quality variations using the unedited sample point soils data and soil pit descriptions.
• Map land-use suitability for planning and development based on the scanned original paper maps.
• Compare land grades over time using the standardized post-1988 survey methodology.

Strengths

• Original survey data collected by a government ministry (MAFF) between 1989 and 1999.
• Includes subdivision of Grade 3 land into subgrades 3a and 3b for finer detail.
• Contains multiple data types: scanned maps, reports, and some soil point data.

Limitations

• Row count and file formats are unknown, which may limit suitability assessment.
• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• Last update date is unknown; freshness unverified.

Provenance

Source

Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAFF), provided by Natural England.

Collection Method

Detailed site surveys with soil analysis, resulting in scanned maps and reports.

Time Range

1989 to 1999

Freshness

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

Geography

Whitchurch-on-Thames, South Oxfordshire, England