Trees and farming can go together – with help

Many farmers are keen to incorporate more woodland into their operations. But, as Athwenna Irons, reports they need more support to take the plunge.

MUCH greater support, information and payment certainty is needed for farmers and land managers to implement agroforestry in the UK, a new survey has revealed.

Carried out by the Soil Association and Farm Woodland Forum, respondents were asked to share their views after downloading the Agroforestry Handbook, which has been written to help farmers and advisors to make decisions about planting and integrating trees into their farming systems.

According to the survey, the handbook gave most farmers more confidence to implement agroforestry, with over 75 per cent of the 346 respondents more likely to implement agroforestry on their farms after reading the guide. Most common motivations were increased biodiversity, landscape resilience, and farm resilience.

However, despite strong interest in the benefits of agroforestry for farms and the environment, the survey found significant barriers holding development back, including a lack of technical knowledge and uncertainty around support payments.

Around 40 per cent of respondents did not know where to go for further guidance on agroforestry, with many others finding that the information they need from Government simply does not exist.

Ben Raskin, head of horticulture and agroforestry at the Soil Association, said it was a “no-brainer” for the Government to provide a “supportive policy framework and more clarity on payments in order to increase the uptake of agroforestry”.

According to the Soil Association, planting trees on farms can boost farm productivity by 30 per cent and bring a range of benefits including improved soil health, carbon capture, biodiversity and animal welfare. It would also support Government tree planting targets.

Mr Raskin explained: “The UK is amongst the least wooded countries in Europe – with only 13 per cent of the UK under trees compared to 38

‘Planting more trees on farms can be a win-win for climate, nature and

health’ BEN RASKIN, SOIL

ASSOCIATION

per cent on average in Europe. Planting more trees on farms can be a win-win for climate, nature and health and would support the huge ambition of the Government’s National Tree Strategy.

“The UK is already well behind on our Government’s own targets and there’s been other issues, like the potential impacts on wildlife. It’s critical for nature and climate that the right trees are grown in the right places.

“It seems a no-brainer for UK Government to provide a supportive policy framework and more clarity on payments in order to increase the uptake of agroforestry. Tree planting can and must play a vital role in a green recovery – tapping into the strong appetite for agroforestry could support more resilient farming, and help restore nature, health and a safe climate.”

The survey findings also revealed the need for more financial modelling and case studies; more information on UK specific benefits (environmental and otherwise); greater knowledge exchange on systems design, species choice and management; market development for the broad range of outputs from agroforestry systems; and greater policy support and funding.

The Agroforestry Handbook, published in 2019, highlights opportunities for UK farmers to reduce farm inputs and replace imports with tree products such as fruit, nuts, fence post timber, animal bedding, fuel wood and mulches. Research by the French think thank, IDDRI, has shown that in Europe a 10-year transition to agroecological farming practices – like agroforestry – would slash agricultural greenhouse gas emissions by 40 per cent, help to restore biodiversity and protect natural resources – all while producing enough healthy food for Europe’s growing population.

David Cracknell, survey respondent and a woodland consultant, said: “One silver lining of Brexit should be that we can now shape our own domestic agricultural grants scheme so that we pay farmers to plant trees on their livestock farms – to improve soil, carbon storage, livestock wellbeing, productivity and the environment as a whole.

“With the right political will we could really lead on agroforestry in this country.

“We have the expertise.”

Philip Formby David Brass, who grazes chickens in a woodland environment as part of an agroforestry programme