Agricultural Land Classification Detailed Post-1988 Survey for Haydock, England

Agricultural Land Classification (ALC) survey data for a site near Haydock, England, conducted between 1989 and 1999. The dataset includes scanned original paper maps and survey reports from detailed site surveys by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, using the grading methodology from the "Agricultural Land Classification of England and Wales" guidelines. It contains unedited sample point soils data and soil pit descriptions for some surveys, with maps at scales ranging from 1:5,000 to 1:50,000.

Use Cases

• Classifying agricultural land capability based on the detailed ALC grading methodology described.
• Analyzing historical soil characteristics using the unedited sample point soils data and soil pit descriptions.
• Mapping land quality for planning and development assessments based on the scanned original maps and survey reports.
• Studying the subdivision of Grade 3 agricultural land into subgrades 3a and 3b as mapped in the surveys.

Strengths

• Original survey maps and reports are available as scanned documents, providing primary source material.
• Surveys use a defined and referenced grading methodology from the "Agricultural Land Classification of England and Wales" publication.
• Includes unedited sample point soils data and soil pit descriptions for some surveys, offering raw observational data.
• Maps provide detailed spatial coverage at scales from 1:5,000 to 1:50,000, typically at 1:10,000.

Limitations

• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• Row count is unknown, which may limit suitability assessment.
• Data is historical, covering the period 1989-1999; current land conditions may differ.

Provenance

Source

Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (survey), Natural England (provider).

Collection Method

Detailed site surveys involving soil analysis and mapping, following the Agricultural Land Classification methodology.

Time Range

1989 to 1999

Freshness

Last updated 2026-07-13 12:53:15.378466; freshness should be verified.

Geography

Land east of Southward Road, Old Boston, Haydock, England, United Kingdom.