Considering Implementing Agroforestry on Your Farm? Join us to help test different forms of advice and guidance for Defra.
The Woodland Trust is leading the delivery of an Agroforestry ELM Test funded by Defra, in conjunction with ORC and the National Trust. The aim is to test a range of advice and guidance structures with farmers as they go through the process of designing and then applying for funding for their own bespoke agroforestry scheme.
Agroforestry has an important yet currently unrealised role to play in tackling the nature and climate crisis whilst enabling farming to adapt to climate change and continue to produce food. In the January 2023 update, Defra confirmed that they will pay for actions to encourage the creation and management of agroforestry systems within the environmental land management schemes. However, it is widely accepted that a significant barrier to farmers taking up agroforestry is a lack of knowledge and expertise. This was a key finding in a Defra ELM Test on agroforestry that was completed earlier this year.
By getting involved in this test you will have an opportunity to help influence the design of the advice and guidance provision via the environmental land management schemes. Tests include the outcomes of different forms of advice provision such as an adviser visiting your farm, or via training courses in person or on-line, or self-led. Once you have been through the test process you will be given an opportunity to receive free tailored advice or guidance on designing an agroforestry system for your farm and support for applying for funding to implement it.
If you are interested in getting involved, please email us at plant@woodlandtrust.org.uk with a subject of ‘Defra Test and Trial’ and include:
We will then contact you to discuss the Test in more detail. The Test is being delivered in partnership with the National Trust and the Organic Research Centre. Third party advice providers will also be commissioned.
Thank you, we look forward to hearing from you. If you’d like to find out more on agroforestry, visit https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/plant-trees/trees-for-landowners-and-farmers/
