Whether you’re hearing about agroforestry for the first time or looking to implement it on your land, we’re here to answer some of your burning questions and point you to the resources to get started.
Table of Contents:
What exactly is agroforestry?
Why should I consider agroforestry?
How do I get started?
How do I select trees and design an agroforestry system?
What funding is available?
Where has it been done before?
Why Agroforestry Matters Now
Key Resources
What exactly is agroforestry?
For some, the term ‘agroforestry’ might conjure up images of trees scattered haphazardly across farmland—when in fact it’s quite the opposite. It’s a set of practices tailored to enhance resilience and productivity by intentionally integrating trees into farming systems. Despite its historical roots, particularly in the traditional ecological knowledge of Indigenous communities, agroforestry is seeing a resurgence as a method for achieving sustainable intensification: increasing yields while improving the environment.
At its core, however, agroforestry is about synergy. By deliberately combining woody vegetation (trees and shrubs) with crops or livestock, you can create mutually beneficial interactions that enhance both ecological and economic outcomes. Therefore, think of it as a versatile toolbox—not a universal template—with the ability to be carefully tailored to your land, goals, and local conditions.
With customisation in mind, agroforestry can take many forms but generally falls into four key categories. Understanding each of these is crucial for choosing the approach that best aligns with your goals.
- Alley Cropping (Silvoarable): Trees are planted in rows within arable fields, intercropped with annual crops. This system can generate additional income from fruit, nuts, or timber.
- Silvopasture: Trees are integrated with livestock grazing, providing shade, nutritional benefits, and even medicinal properties for animals, while offering an additional crop like nuts or fruit.
- Forest Farming: Crops, often specialities like mushrooms, herbs, or medicinal plants are cultivated under a forest canopy, taking advantage of woodland conditions.
- Shelterbelts, Hedgerows, and Riparian Buffers: Trees are used to protect fields, livestock, or waterways which in turn can help mitigate flooding, enhance soil and water resources, and increase biodiversity.
Why should I consider agroforestry?
For many, switching to agroforestry may seem daunting, but the benefits are compelling:
- Boosts Productivity: Trees provide additional income from timber, nuts, or fruit and can enhance crop yields. Alongside providing shade, the symbiosis between plants, livestock, and trees improves plant and animal conditions and reduces inputs.
- Increases Resilience: By diversifying income sources and ecosystems, agroforestry reduces farmers’ vulnerability to risks such as extreme weather, fluctuating market prices, or crop failure.
- Improves Soil Health: Tree roots anchor the soil, preventing erosion and facilitating greater moisture retention. As organic matter from leaf litter decomposes, it enriches the soil with nutrients leading to improved soil health and fertility.
- Enhances Biodiversity: Trees and shrubs attract pollinators and natural predators that control pests while creating habitats for wildlife. These ecological benefits extend to the farm by improving crop pollination and naturally reducing pest outbreaks.
- Sequesters Carbon: Agroforestry systems play a key role in combating climate change by capturing carbon in both biomass and soil. Through greater carbon sequestration, these systems can contribute to national and global carbon neutrality goals.
- Manages Water: Trees reduce water runoff by increasing infiltration into the soil, which minimises erosion and prevents flooding downstream.
How do I get started?
Every farm is different, and the right agroforestry system depends on your specific situation. Start by assessing your goals; are you looking to boost income, improve soil health, or combat erosion? Having clear objectives in mind will help you pick a system that matches your goals. As a starting point, for example, silvopasture may suit a livestock farmer needing greater shade and additional feed options for their animals, while alley cropping works well for arable farmers looking to integrate profitable tree crops alongside their annual crops. For inspiration on what your system could look like, check out this illustrated guide by the Tree Council.
How do I select trees and design an agroforestry system?
The design phase, including the appropriate selection of trees, is critical to the long-term success of your agroforestry project. While some farmers and land managers may begin with a clear idea of the tree species they want to incorporate, others may need to evaluate which trees are best suited to their specific soil type, climatic conditions, and farming objectives. For silvopasture, species like ash or silver birch are great options for providing light canopies that balance shade and pasture growth. Whereas for alley cropping, walnut, hazel, or chestnut trees can provide high-value timber or nuts. For more information on planning tree species, see the Agroforestry Tree Species Guide.
Tools like our Agroforestry Designer Toolkit can aid in determining optimal tree species and their placement, alongside streamlining the whole design process by creating tailored layouts and exploring funding eligibility. Find out more about our Agroforestry Designer Toolkit, here.
What funding is available?
Agroforestry can be costly to establish, but fortunately, there are plenty of funding opportunities available. Take advantage of government grants, such as:
- Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI): Supports tree planting on low-sensitivity land.
- England Woodland Creation Offer (EWCO): Focused on riparian buffers, shelterbelts, and larger-scale tree planting.
- Countryside Stewardship (CS): Offers grants for agroforestry practices, including hedgerows and buffer zones.
Agroforestry payments can often be “stacked” with other environmental land management schemes, provided that activities are distinct and do not result in double funding. For instance, you can combine EWCO funding for tree planting with SFI payments for soil health improvements, so long as the funded activities complement each other. Additionally, seek out funding from local tree planting initiatives and charities, like the Woodland Trust’s ‘Trees for your farm’ initiative. For more information on payments for agroforestry actions, see guidance here.
Where has it been done before?
From small family farms to larger estates, a growing body of inspiring case studies is showcasing how agroforestry is making a real difference. If you’re curious about how agroforestry practices are enhancing productivity, resilience, and sustainability in the UK, read our recent case study here, or discover more through the Woodland Trust’s initiatives.
Why Agroforestry Matters Now
As demonstrated here, agroforestry offers a flexible, tailored approach to sustainable farming that brings ecological, economic, and social wins. With increasing support from government schemes and organisational initiatives, there has never been a better time to get started. Whether you are aiming to boost yields, combat climate change, or diversify your income, the journey starts today with understanding your land and leveraging the right tools.
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