AGROFORESTRY
Agroforestry - the planned combination of trees and agricultural crops to maximise the benefits of both.
After many years of dreaming, we planted our major agroforestry silvoarable system in winter 24/25. Over 3000 native trees have been planted in avenues across 55ha with alley widths of 30-48m, between which crops will grow and livestock will graze as before. Our major aims are to significantly improve nature recovery and carbon sequestration whilst becoming self-sufficient in biomass for heat production, providing more shade and shelter for livestock and adding positively to the farm landscape.
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Trees of 8 different species have been chosen for their particular wildlife benefit and ability to regrow quickly when rotationally coppiced for fuel.
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Rowan
Crab Apple
Goat Willow
Hazel
Hawthorn
Silver Birch
Hybrid Poplar
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The 3m wide tree understory strips have been sown with diverse native wildflowers with the aim of supporting pollinators, invertebrates and small mammals, and in turn larger species. We are monitoring the impact of the 6 miles of new tree line habitat on a wide range of species and will continue this over the coming years to provide evidence of the benefits of a system like this.
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We love the immediate visual impact which the trees have had and are very much looking forward to watching them develop over the coming years.
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