Farmeco Today Episode 3 – Agroforestry

Resource explained

David Rose, farmer and co-founder of Home Farm Ecocentre in Screveton, Nottinghamshire, UK, introduces agroforestry in one of a series of podcasts. He focuses on silvoarable; describing the system on his farm with alleyways of trees every 24 metres of arable crop, 3 metres of wildflowers and grasses, then a row of fruit trees – apple, walnuts and sweet chestunts. He has about 740 trees and 5 alleyways and is involved in research looking at how agroforestry can help farmers diversify and use trees to help with their economic return, their environmental returns through improving habitats, and the social returns of getting more people out on farms and involved in farming. He talks about the environmental impact of agroforestry – explaining what they’re montoring in the different fields, and referring to the role of trees in mitigating wind and soil erosion. He hands over to Tom Staton from Reading University who is measuring the insect life on the farm, and describes his research and some of the results they’re observing.

Findings & recommendations

• David emphasises the importance of having a farming system that is both economically and environmentally viable – we need to make sure we’re working towards a climate change carbon neutral solution.
• There are some useful resources at the end of the podcast.
• Listen to more podcasts from Farmeco here.

Header image credit: David Rose, Farmeco. All Rights Reserved.