Getting started in agroforestry

We look at some of the practicalities, opportunities and challenges involved when integrating agroforestry systems into a farm business.

Establishing trees is expensive and time-consuming. Therefore, it is vital to get the right tree in the right place for the right reason.

What is your aim?

Consider the main aims and purpose of the proposed agroforestry system, including the desired outcomes.

A few examples:

• Provide shelter for livestock
• Increase biodiversity for pollination
• Increase carbon sequestration
• Maintain the same level of food productivity with an additional product, such as orchard fruit or wood timber

Planning

• What is your starting point; what land is to be developed? For example, is it pasture or arable land? Silvoarable systems can be flexible. They can be set up as a permanent system or, alternatively, a temporary system to generate initial income from a silvopasture or woodland system while the trees grow
• Who or what will be the sources of advice and support?
• What is the timeframe for achieving the objectives?
• Will there be any financial support, e.g. through SFI in England or the Woodland Trust?

Design

Things to consider when designing the layout of your agroforestry system.

Tree spatial arrangement

Trees can be arranged as:

• Rows of trees – shelterbelts, riparian buffers, hedgerows, alley cropping, orchards
• Clustered trees – wood pasture (wooded pasture land managed through grazing)
• Single trees – wood pasture

Density

Depending on tree species used and the livestock system, trees can be evenly planted at wide spacing, with densities varying from 100 to 400 trees per hectare.

Machinery access

Layouts must allow enough space for machinery access and for operations to be conducted safely. It may be more practical to adapt the forestry layout to the size of the machinery available rather than the other way round. Otherwise, specialised equipment would be required, e.g. the harvester or the mower.

In silvopasture, the distance between the trees should be a multiple of the mower width plus approximately 10%. This also allows operations to be conducted safely.

Aspect

Rows of trees are best situated to be parallel with the longest axis of the field. The position of the rows will affect the distribution of light on the ground and any self-shading of the trees. Slopes will also have an impact.

Orientation

A north–south orientation of trees suits a system where apples are the main crop. However, the decision should be weighed up alongside the value of other enterprises in the agroforestry system.

Aesthetics

As trees grow they soon become noticeable in the landscape. A block of trees on a hillside will look better if the edges are wavy and follow the contours rather than present a hard, straight edge.

Climate

Local climate and the movement of the sun throughout the year needs to be considered (e.g. when planting alley trees) to ensure crops receive enough sunlight at the right times of year.

Wind/air currents

Prevailing winds or air currents may be important. Are there ways to take advantage of the windbreak effects of trees and hedges?

Species

Site factors such as soil type, elevation and current land use will influence the species chosen.

Careful consideration of the species is required because they will form part of the farm and will interact with the crops, livestock and environment. These interactions will have to be weighed up and optimised to reach the outcomes sought.

It is also important to think about what the market is for a specific tree variety and what the demand is for a particular product.

Tree species selection

Decision support tools are available to help select tree species that are best ecologically suited to particular sites. For example, the Ecological Site Classification (from Forest Research).

Size and type of tree stock

For example, whether trees are bare-root or container-grown. More initial maintenance, such as irrigation, may be required for larger size stock, e.g. fruit trees.

Establishment

Trees require protection from livestock and/or weed growth during establishment. Silvopasture systems are susceptible to damage from pests and livestock, so a management plan for protection is essential.

For instance, tree guards or mesh shelters may be employed depending on the livestock or pest, e.g. deer.

Funding opportunities

With commitments to achieving net zero in 2050, there is an increasing drive to plant more trees and create more woodland. As a result, funding opportunities and supporting legislation are increasing.

Some funding opportunities are given below. These are correct at the time of writing in June 2024.

England, Wales and Northern Ireland

The Woodland Trust’s MOREwoods scheme provides funding and support where 500+ trees are planted on at least half a hectare in England, Wales or Northern Ireland. Support includes design, species mix, supply of trees and tree protection. It can also include planting if the woodland is greater than 1 ha.

England only

Tree planting and woodland creation, funding and advice is available from the Forestry Commission. This includes the Woodland Creation Planning Grant for areas greater than 5 ha (including woodland blocks of 0.5 ha of a minimum width of 20 m).

The Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) scheme’s expanded offer for 2024 includes two new agroforestry actions:

• AGF1: Very low density in-field agroforestry on less sensitive land
• AGF2: Low density in-field agroforestry on less sensitive land

Applications are planned to open from July 2024. AHDB provides a summary of these agroforestry standards.

Defra has developed a Find funding for land or farms search tool to help access information about grants and funding for farmers and land managers in England.

Northern Ireland only

Forestry grants from DAERA These funding opportunities are currently closed but may reopen in the future.

Scotland only

The Forestry Grant Scheme from Scottish Forestry includes grant options for woodland creation and managing existing woodland.

Wales only

Natural Resources Wales Grants includes grant options for planting more than 0.1 ha.

Agroforestry case studies

These case studies show how other farmers have integrated agroforestry systems with existing operations, including the options for support.

Elston Farm: Andy Gray is integrating agroforestry with the production of arable crops and livestock in Devon.

Cannerheugh Farm: Nic and Paul Renison are integrating agroforestry with a rotational grazing system in Cumbria.

More case studies are coming shortly.

Further information

This information is partly based on The agroforestry handbook (PDF), Soil Association

How to design regular spaced silvopasture strips on your farm, Innovative Farmers

Tree planting and woodland creation – overview, Forestry Commission

Silvoarable agroforestry in the UK research project from AGFORWARD (AGroFORestry that Will Advance Rural Development), January 2014 to December 2017

Tree species guide for UK agroforestry systems, University of Reading, Forest Research