Agroforestry

Home > Agroforestry
17 APR 2024
Elston Farm, Copplestone, Devon, EX17 5PB
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About Agroforestry

Why plant trees on productive land? When will you see the benefits? How do trees benefit food production and our long-term food security?

Come along to Elston Farm, Copplestone for a farm walk, lunch and discussion with the Woodland Trust and Andy Gray, a livestock farmer with a three-year old agroforestry project.

You’ll hear directly from Andy about the benefits of alley planting, including extended grazing seasons, enhanced soil health, improved animal welfare and the increase in wildlife he has seen on the farm.

We will also discuss the issues faced when integrating trees into livestock systems and the lessons learnt from agroforestry projects across the south west, including the Devon Silvopasture Trials which Elston Farm is part of (Devon silvopasture network (innovativefarmers.org).  

We’re keen to hear your ideas and will be there to offer help in designing and funding tree, hedgerow or agroforestry projects on your farm.

Expert advice

Gain critical insights and guidance from those who built a diversification business

Case study tours

View the site/project on the day to see how it was diversified to create a new income stream

Networking opportunities

Meet like-minded farmers from across the UK farming industry to share experiences and ideas

Hear from speakers

Have your questions answered and discuss your ideas with professionals and peers

Agenda

09:30

Attendee registration desk opens and speakers arrive at the venue for networking breakfast/coffee and speaker briefing meeting
09:55

Welcome from Suzie Horne, Business editor, Farmers Weekly 
10:00 – 10:25

Helen Chesshire, Woodland Trust
10:25 – 10:50

Forestry Commission
10:50– 11:20

Coffee/comfort break
11:20 – 11:45

Finance and planning aspects
11:45 – 12:10

Tax implications
12:10 - 12:30

Case study: Andy Gray, Eston Farm
12:30 – 13:30

Lunch
13.30– 14:00

Q&A, all speakers
14:00 – 14:50

Tour, led by Andy Gray and Ellen Smith
14:50

Suzie Horne, Business editor, Farmers Weekly, closing remarks  
15:00

End Event  

Meet the host

Suzie Horne is Farmers Weekly’s Business Editor. She has a Yorkshire family farming background and an HND in agricultural marketing and business administration.

Suzie has an extensive background in agricultural journalism and is interested in all farm business and rural issues.

Speakers

Andy Gray

Andy Gray has run a meat business and managed the 150 acres of surrounding land since 1991.

Andy Gray

Andy Gray has run a meat business and managed the 150 acres of surrounding land since 1991.

Focusing on vertically integrated production and marketing has produced a novel, market-facing approach to farming, a fascination with research, innovative approaches and scientific collaborations looking at ambitious approaches to sustainable farming.

More info >

Ellen Smith

Ellen Smith is an outreach adviser for the Woodland Trust, with a focus on agroforestry and how trees can be integrated into the farming landscape.

Ellen Smith

Ellen Smith is an outreach adviser for the Woodland Trust, with a focus on agroforestry and how trees can be integrated into the farming landscape.

Ellen is interested in the wide-ranging benefits of trees on farms; including animal welfare, farm productivity, climate resilience and biodiversity.

She also advises on woodland creation more generally and can guide landowners/farmers on funding opportunities to support.

More info >

Helen Chesshire

Helen Chesshire is the lead farming advocate for the Woodland Trust, responsible for working with the farming sector and policymakers to promote the benefits of trees on farms.

Helen Chesshire

Helen Chesshire is the lead farming advocate for the Woodland Trust, responsible for working with the farming sector and policymakers to promote the benefits of trees on farms.

Otherwise known as agroforestry, the deliberate integration of trees within agricultural crops and livestock is a win –win for food production and the natural environment.

Helen leads the Trust’s involvement in several partnership projects delivering agroforestry across the UK. Helen grew up on a mixed livestock farm in the Midlands.

More info >

Marc Liebrecht

Marc is head of forestry at Carter Jonas and has an active role in the natural capital team, with a focus on carbon sequestration and biodiversity net gain.

Marc Liebrecht

Marc is head of forestry at Carter Jonas and has an active role in the natural capital team, with a focus on carbon sequestration and biodiversity net gain.

He specialises in the delivery of forest and woodland management, tree safety surveys and forest valuations.

He works for a range of private clients, charities and institutions, delivering a comprehensive range of forestry and tree management services.

He also has 30 years’ experience in woodland creation, designing and implementing projects in England.

He is a chartered forester, chartered surveyor and chartered environmentalist.

More info >

Philip Kirkpatrick

Philip Kirkpatrick is a specialist rural accountant with a passion for supporting the agricultural community.

Philip Kirkpatrick

Philip Kirkpatrick is a specialist rural accountant with a passion for supporting the agricultural community.

Phil has spent more than a decade offering tailored financial advice to farmers, landowners, and rural businesses across the South West.

More info >

Jim O'Neill

Jim is the Forestry Commission’s agroforestry development manager, developing, promoting, and championing agroforestry.

Jim O'Neill

Jim is the Forestry Commission’s agroforestry development manager, developing, promoting, and championing agroforestry.

Leaving Newton Rigg College of Agriculture and National School of Forestry in 1989, Jim joined the Forestry Commission in Argyll in harvesting and forest management.

He returned to Cumbria as a woodland officer, working with farmers and landowners, advising on woodland creation and management.

Jim led the 2018 Forestry Investment Zone Defra pilot in Northeast Cumbria, developing relationships and novel approaches to incorporate trees on farms.

This led him towards agroforestry as an approach to integrate trees, woodlands, and forestry into the farmed landscape, as component of the agricultural system.

More info >

Venue

Location

Elston Farm, Copplestone, Devon, EX17 5PB

Website:
https://farmwilder.co.uk/our-farms/elston-farm/

Map

Apply now for a place at the Agroforestry event

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Headline partner - Agroforestry

Woodland Trust

Trees should be in every farmer’s toolbox. They boost productivity, resilience and the health of the environment – with no need to trade off with production.

If you’re looking to plant lots of trees, we have the trees, grants and funding schemes to help. Our expert advisers can help you put the right trees in the right place to achieve your goals.

Increase biodiversity, provide shelter, prevent soil erosion, reduce flooding and much more with the Woodland Trust.

Website: woodlandtrust.org.uk/plant

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Past events

Biodiversity

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Renewable energy

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Development

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Woodland creation

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Partners

Conrad Energy

Forestry Commission

Woodland Trust