Agricultural Land Classification Survey Maps and Reports, 1989-1999

Post-1988 Agricultural Land Classification (ALC) site survey data from the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. The collection includes scanned original paper maps and survey reports for individual sites surveyed in detail between 1989 and 1999, with some surveys also containing unedited sample point soils data and soil pit descriptions. Natural England holds the copyright, and the data contains Ordnance Survey information.

Use Cases

• Classify agricultural land capability based on the grading methodology described in the survey reports.
• Analyze historical soil characteristics and land quality based on the available soil pit descriptions and sample point data.
• Support land use planning decisions by referencing detailed, site-specific survey maps.
• Study changes in land classification practices by examining surveys conducted under the post-1988 methodology.

Strengths

• Data collection follows the established 'Agricultural Land Classification of England and Wales' methodology.
• Includes detailed site surveys with maps at scales ranging from 1:5,000 to 1:50,000.
• Some surveys contain supplementary unedited sample point soils data and soil pit descriptions.

Limitations

• Row count, file formats, and column-level documentation are unknown; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• Last update date is unknown; freshness unverified.
• Data may reflect temporal and geographic bias inherent to the specific sites surveyed between 1989 and 1999.

Provenance

Source

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

Collection Method

Detailed site surveys conducted by government ministry, with original paper maps and reports scanned.

Time Range

1989 to 1999

Freshness

Last updated date is unknown.

Geography

Specific sites in England and Wales, including the 'Stokelsey, Thirsk Road' example.