Agricultural Land Classification Survey: Ellerton-On-Swale, 1989-1999

Post-1988 Agricultural Land Classification (ALC) survey data for the Ellerton-On-Swale site, collected by the UK Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food between 1989 and 1999. It includes scanned original paper maps, survey reports, and for some surveys, unedited sample point soils data and soil pit descriptions. The data uses the grading methodology from 'Agricultural Land Classification of England and Wales' and maps land at scales from 1:5,000 to 1:50,000.

Use Cases

• Classify agricultural land quality based on the detailed grading methodology described in the survey reports.
• Analyze soil characteristics and variability based on the available unedited sample point and soil pit data.
• Map historical land use and agricultural potential at a regional scale using the scanned geospatial maps.
• Study changes in land classification over a defined period using the 1989-1999 survey timeframe.

Strengths

• Provides detailed land classification including the subdivision of Grade 3 into subgrades 3a and 3b.
• Includes original scanned maps and reports, preserving the primary survey methodology.
• Covers a specific 10-year period (1989-1999) for consistent historical analysis.

Limitations

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

Provenance

Source

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

Collection Method

Detailed site surveys conducted between 1989 and 1999, with maps scanned from original paper records.

Time Range

1989 to 1999

Freshness

Last updated is unknown.

Geography

Ellerton-On-Swale, England and Wales (implied by methodology reference)