Agroforestry currently represents a small fraction of UK land use, however, this novel approach to land management bares fruit in more ways than one. This article highlights a selection of our favourite organisations breaking new ground in Agroforestry.
What is Agroforestry?
As the name suggests, Agroforestry is the coming-together of the disciplines of Agriculture and Forestry. That is to say, the deliberate integration of trees and shrubs into farming systems.
Hedgerows are a classic example of Agroforestry — demarcating land, protecting livestock from weather extremes, and also providing great habitat for wildlife.
Newer Agroforestry systems such as silvoarable (Read: ‘silvo arable’) crop systems introduce productive, fruit-baring trees amongst crops. Again, this promotes biodiversity, as well as improving soil health and giving farmers an added source of income (i.e. fruit!).
While there are significant economic and environmental benefits to Agroforestry, its adoption in the UK remains low. According to The Organic Research Centre, 72% of UK land is farmed but only 3.3% of that land is used for Agroforestry.
We’d love to see more farmers adopting this model of farming, but for now, here’s a list of our favourite, most inspiring examples of UK Agroforestry.
Our Favourite Examples of UK Agroforestry:
Allerton Trust — Loddington, Leicestershire
The Allerton Trust is a UK Agroforestry leader, having been established more than 25 years ago.
The organisation owns and manages its 790-acre commercial farm in Leicestershire, which doubles as an Agroforestry research centre, offering visits and training courses in biodiversity, soil and water management, and water-friendly farming.
https://www.allertontrust.org.uk/
Wakelyns — Fressingfield, Suffolk
Wakelyns Farm was purchased in 1992 by Ann and Martin Wolfe, with the aspiration of using the farm as a testing ground for new forms of agriculture. Since then, they have diversified the kinds of crops grown at Wakelyns through organic rotation Agroforestry.
Aside from agriculture, Wakelyns conducts conservation research to help tackle climate change and the nature crisis, advocating for whole systems change with regard to how we produce our food.
Dartington Trust — Dartington, Devon
Dartington was founded in 1925 by Dorothy and Leonard Elmhirst as a visitor destination and charity supporting learning in the arts and ecology.
The Trust manages 1,200-acre estate in South Devon, which offers a range of conservation, agroforestry and regenerative food-growing projects.
The Trust also offers a creative community with a rich programme of arts and crafts, theatre, music, film and dance events throughout the year.
Church Farm Ardeley — Stevenage, Hertfordshire
Until the 1960s, Church Farm Ardeley in Hertfordshire was a traditional pig and poultry farm. However, the latter part of the 20th century represented a revolution in their approach to land use, integrating woods and ponds into their farming systems.
Today, the 170-acre farm is a community interest, not-for-profit social enterprise championing biodiversity. As well as farming, the land now additionally boasts orchards, grassland and woodland.
https://www.churchfarmardeley.co.uk/
FarmEco — Screveton, Nottinghamshire
FarmEco is a great example of a generational farm which has evolved away from pesticides, herbicides, tilling, and other destructive practices.
FarmEco is set across 450-acres in Nottinghamshire, with 70 of these acres being dedicated to silvoarable and silvopastoral Agroforestry. Local volunteers help out with the planting of trees, and in return, FarmEco offers the part of their woodland as a community resource, where members of the community can plant, tend, and harvest crops.