Exploring Agroforestry in an Upland Landscape

Andrew Barbour:

• Wood pasture (WP) requires management of the three components – trees, ground vegetation and animals. It can be simple if animals are excluded during establishment, and if the farmer is willing to manage the tree crop.
• WP does not involve long-term loss of land to the farm so you can in theory plant on a larger scale than normal shelterbelts.
• As the system has matured, low pollarding has allowed more light to come through and help with grass production. The woodchip is used in the barns for bedding, is fermented, and goes back on the land.
• WP provides a viable alternative to Sitka spruce plantations on upland farms.

Katherine Sharp:

• Agroforestry can provide shelter, improved coat care for sheep, improved soil and water health, foraging opportunities, and multiple benefits for wildlife.
• Trees have been selected on the basis of supplying livestock with a diverse diet and minerals from forage that her land lacks (selenium, cobalt and copper), being able to cope with wet and exposed land, providing tannins (against fluke), climate resilience, being priority tree species for Scotland, and being species that grow well locally.
• Although it is great to get trees planted quickly, sometimes it pays to get to know your farm first. One early planting was sited in an area regularly frequented by deer, and subsequently suffered severe losses. Plans have been adapted to accomodate wildlife e.g. waders and black grouse needs.