Agricultural Land Classification Survey: Wantage Site with Soil Data (1989-1999)

Post 1988 Agricultural Land Classification (ALC) site survey data for the Wantage, Chain Hill Road site in the Vale of White Horse. The dataset includes scanned original paper maps and survey reports for sites surveyed in detail between 1989 and 1999 by the Ministry of Agriculture Fisheries and Food. For some surveys, unedited sample point soils data and soil pit descriptions are also available.

Use Cases

• Classify agricultural land capability based on the detailed grading methodology described in the survey reports.
• Analyze soil characteristics and variability based on the available unedited sample point soils data and pit descriptions.
• Map historical land quality at a local scale for land use change studies, based on the scanned maps at scales from 1:5,000 to 1:50,000.
• Compare subgrades within Grade 3 agricultural land (3a and 3b) for precision agriculture or policy assessment.

Strengths

• Uses the current grading methodology as described in the official 'Agricultural Land Classification of England and Wales' document.
• Includes the subdivision of Grade 3 land into subgrades 3a and 3b, providing finer detail.
• Contains ancillary data such as unedited sample point soils data and soil pit descriptions for some surveys.

Limitations

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

Provenance

Source

Ministry of Agriculture Fisheries and Food (survey), Natural England and Ordnance Survey (copyright).

Collection Method

Detailed site surveys involving soil analysis and mapping, with results recorded on paper maps and reports.

Time Range

1989 to 1999

Freshness

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

Geography

Wantage, Chain Hill Road, Vale of White Horse, England