ALCL12092: Post-1988 Agricultural Land Classification Survey for Wakefield

Wakefield, Snow Hill Extension survey provides detailed Agricultural Land Classification (ALC) data for England and Wales. The dataset includes scanned original paper maps and reports from detailed site surveys conducted between 1989 and 1999 by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. It features soil data and pit descriptions for some sites, with maps at scales from 1:5,000 to 1:50,000.

Use Cases

• Classify agricultural land capability based on the detailed grading methodology described in the survey reports.
• Analyze soil characteristics and limitations for specific sites using the unedited sample point and soil pit data.
• Map land quality subdivisions, such as Grade 3a and 3b, for regional planning and agricultural development.
• Conduct historical land-use analysis by comparing survey data from the 1989-1999 period.

Strengths

• Data is based on a formal, published grading methodology ('Agricultural Land Classification of England and Wales').
• Includes high-detail original survey maps at scales ranging from 1:5,000 to 1:50,000.
• Contains supplementary soil point data and pit descriptions for some surveys.

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 (MAFF), via Natural England and the Government Digital Service.

Collection Method

Detailed site surveys with soil analysis, mapped onto paper plans.

Time Range

1989 to 1999

Freshness

Data collection period is 1989-1999; last update status is unknown.

Geography

Wakefield, Snow Hill Extension area in England, United Kingdom.