Agroforestry Type: Hedgerows, shelterbelts and riparian buffer strips

A National Network of Agroforestry Farms

Project that aimed to promote agroforestry as a way of farmers and landowners simultaneously and sustainably growing food, transitioning into the new ELM Scheme in the UK and contributing to ‘public goods.’ It showcased farms and initiatives across the UK successfully balancing these objectives to share knowledge and evidence of the value of agroforestry. GWCT Allerton led on the project; a collaboration between them, the Organic Research Centre, Woodland Trust, National Trust, Woodmeadow Trust, Farm Woodland Forum and Agricology.

This hub page pulls together videos and podcasts, together with existing technical guides, blogs and profiles of farmers innovating with agroforestry. All share practical experiences of implementing agroforestry, lessons learned and practical tips.

Woodland Trust agroforestry

Woodland Trust is the UK’s largest woodland conservation charity (established in 1972) that protects, restores and creates woods and trees. As part of this, they work with partners, farmers, landowners and local communities to create bigger, better, more resilient landscapes across the UK for people and wildlife. This link takes you to information that can be accessed specifically in relation to agroforestry. It includes outlining the many different ways agroforestry can benefit farmers and the wider environment, how it can help to tackle climate change, information on benefits and management of hedgerows, links to many different multi-media resources they have produced (practical guides, videos, research reports, case studies), including information on farmer Stephen Briggs’ silvoarable agroforestry project (which is the largest in the UK), and includes lots of information on how the Woodland Trust can assist with advice, grants and funding schemes.

Agroforestry (Soil Association online agroforestry hub)

UK-based Soil Association Scotland website pages relating to agroforestry. Includes information on benefits of agroforestry (with links to case studies), how to get started with agroforestry (case studies, videos, webinar recordings…), grants and guidance (summary of the organisations offering advisory services on agroforestry, important links on their websites, and stories from farmers who’ve gone through the process already), and agroforestry resources.

Biodiversity Protocol Assessment Tool

This tool was developed as part of the TWECOM project for farmers, land managers and advisors interested in harvesting woodfuel from hedges and monitoring potential biodiversity impacts – to help with decision making in the planning and design of hedge management for woodfuel.

You can access and print off survey sheets you can use to assess hedges, enter your collected data on the spreadsheet, and view results. There is an accompanying survey handbook you can also refer to.

Towards Eco-energetic Communities TWECOM

The aim of this project was to demonstrate that local short supply chain systems using biomass from landscape elements for local energy or heat production are economically feasible. Through realising these systems and bringing together experiences from different partners and regions in northwest Europe, the project wanted to demonstrate that this currently unused biomass from landscape elements can contribute to local sustainable energy production, with respect to ecological, social and cultural aspects.
Farmers, landowners and local communities worked to develop a pilot energy co-operative using woody biomass from local landscape elements (particularly farm hedges).

Various publications were produced providing guidance on harvesting woodfuel from hedges which you can access via the project website and the Organic Research Centre webpage.

Wakelyns Agroforestry

Wakelyns Agroforestry in Suffolk practices organic farming on one of the longest established and most diverse agroforestry sites in the UK. Different agroforestry systems, based on a maximum use of biodiversity, have been the site of many years of research trials and demonstrations. This 22.5 hectare / 56 acre experimental and innovative agroforestry farm was established by the late plant pathologist and pioneer Professor Martin Wolfe, to put into action his theories of agrobiodiversity being the answer to achieving sustainable and resilient agriculture. Martin pursued his research into agroforestry, co-cropping, crop populations and new crop trials at Wakelyns where the first trees were planted in 1994 and planting continues today.

Wakelyns Agroforestry integrates trees for timber (ash, wild cherry, Italian alder, small-leaved lime, sycamore, oak and hornbeam), energy (hazel, hybrid willow and poplar) and fruit (apple, plum, pear, cherry, quince, peach and apricot) production into an organic crop rotation in four mature silvoarable systems. The next generation of the Wolfe family is evolving Wakelyns as a demonstration centre for agroforestry, while also developing other activities which add to the farming and food production. Via the Wakleyns website, you can access detailed information about what is grown, how it is managed, events, and much more.

Agroforestry: agriculture of the future? The case of Montpellier (part of the SAFE : Silvoarable Agroforestry For Europe project)

Case study produced as part of the SAFE project developed and implemented as a CCA (Climate Change Adaptation) Measure. Several stakeholder organisations from France, The Netherlands, and Greece were involved in the SAFE project. In France, APCA (the national chamber of Agriculture in France) was responsible for the establishment of a network of agroforestry system demonstration plots that is now a very efficient tool for agroforestry extension.

The SAFE project provided models and databases for assessing the profitability of silvoarable systems, and suggested policy guidelines for implementing agroforestry. It developed biophysical and socio-economic tools to inform farmers and policy-makers of the potential for silvoarable agroforestry to contribute to the integrated and sustainable development of European rural areas.

In Montpellier, the agroforestry scheme has been implemented for 20 years. The agroforestry scheme adopted in Montpellier within the SAFE project is a combination of walnut trees and wheat cultivation. A French national scheme for planting half a million hectares of agroforestry during the next 25 years is expected to be based on results obtained by INRA (Institut Nantional de la Recherche Agronomique) at Montpellier.

The case study provides information on challenges, objectives and benefits.

Agroforestry for Beef & Sheep Farmers – Farming for a Better Climate

Podcast produced as part of the Farming for a Better Climate (FFBC) consortium. Based in Scotland, FFBC provides practical support to benefit the farm and help reduce impacts on the climate. FFBC is run by SRUC on behalf of the Scottish Government. They combine ideas trialled by their volunteer Climate Change Focus Farms and information from up-to-the-minute scientific research, and offer practical advice to help farmers choose the most relevant measures to improve farm performance and resilience to future climate change effects.

This podcast episode explores the many benefits of agroforestry systems; from improved animal welfare with improved shelter, nutritional benefits from grazing access to different tree species, and other health benefits such as parasitic control from the naturally occurring chemicals ingested with the range of plants found within a woodland flora. The webpage also provides information on integrating livestock with trees.

FarmTree

Spreadsheets can help agroforestry practitioners plan for agroforestry investments. The FarmTree Tool quantifies and forecasts the performance of agroforestry systems and can be used to design plot plans. It holds by default climate, soil and tree/crop/input data of a particular regions in the world. When practitioners key in plot cover (annuals, perennials) the tool accesses soil data and climate projections, and generates plot plans with 60+ vegetation, yield, carbon, financial, labour, soil fertility, hydrology, and other indicators.
Project designers require landscape or project-level economic and financial assessments, or carbon and water performance projections. Single-plot projections can be combined into project cost-benefit analysis, typically to help assess the economic feasibility annexes of project proposals.
The tool is available under license that comes with training.