Notes from Hillside - DEFRA helping farmers with climate adaption by offering support for agroforestry

A run of powerful named storms with buckets of rain last winter, followed by 4 heat waves in succession with almost no rain (I look out over our parched brown grazing land), must surely persuade even die-hard climate sceptics that adaption to a rapidly changing climate is increasingly essential. Our climate adaption efforts here at Hillside have focussed on increasing the variety of grazing plants, and splitting our land into smaller parcels, divided by new multi-species hedges, separate copses, and one new hedge bank. A number of new in-field trees are beginning to offer shade. All of this could be regarded low level of agroforestry, with the hedges offering valuable shelter and foraging for our sheep and wildlife, and shade for the adjacent grass pasture.

Hillside sheep grazing in the woods – basic agroforestry livestock foraging on hedgerows and trees is a beneficial, ancient, and entirely natural practice. The diverse range of forage, including bark, leaves and berries, provide essential nutrients and minerals that may be lacking in standard pasture grasses. In particular sheep and cattle will actively seek out specific plants to help alleviate nutritional deficiencies or ailments, acting as a form of self-medication for parasite control, pain relief, and general health and well-being. This in turn helps reduce vet bills or the need for synthetic medication, bringing benefit to the overall farm business.

Although agroforestry practices are deeper rooted and much more ancient in hotter climes, many UK livestock farmers already practise elements of agroforestry in the way they use trees and hedges. However the new agroforestry grants from DEFRA, offered via the Countryside Stewardship (CS) process, should add more trees to existing UK farming systems and help add resilience as the climate warms. The grant is pretty generous with the option of choosing native woodland trees, with money for planting and erecting parkland-style tree shelters for each tree.

The two common forms of agroforestry in our latitudes are Silvopasture and Silvoarable. I have borrowed the following definitions from the Woodland Trust.

Silvopasture. Trees in livestock fields. The trees provide shade and reduce heat stress on hot days, while offering shelter from wind and rain in colder months. They also provide nutritional and medicinal benefits through browsing as well as offering a habitat for wildlife.

Silvoarable. Trees in arable fields. These may be productive trees grown in rows among arable crops – known as alley cropping - to earn extra income from fruits, nuts or timber. They may also be arranged as alley coppice, orchard intercropping or individual trees. In hotter climates this system can significantly increase yields, both due to the trees maintaining higher levels of soil moisture, and the protection partial shade offers against severe heat.

In recent decades, in response to rising temperatures, agroforestry has become more prevalent in western Europe, but in the more temperate UK, understandably we lag behind, with less than 3% of farmed land is agroforestry. From 1 September when - under current DEFRA rules - farmers are allowed to cut or flail their hedges, at Hillside we cut side branches from hedgerow trees to use as fodder, at least once the birds and bugs have had most of the berries. This is, in itself, trees supporting livestock but it also acts as helpful preparation for hedges due to be laid in the coming winter months.

Farmers have used these agroforestry systems for millennia in hotter climes and, in response to rising temperatures, it has now become more prevalent in western Europe. But with our more temperate climate the UK has lagged behind, with less than 3% of farmed land in agroforestry. For all those folks across the South Hams keen on supporting efforts to plant more trees, including my fellow Tree Wardens, then encouraging local landowners to take advantage of the DEFRA Countryside Stewardship (CS) Agroforestry grants may yield fruit. If there was an offer of volunteers to help the landowner plant the agroforestry trees that might help improve the chances of success!

Note that although the current round of Countryside Stewardship grant applications has now closed, DEFRA expects to offer new grants again in the new year. The ultimate example of agroforestry is a forest garden, such as the one created by Martin Crawford at Dartington, which is a “must see” if you haven’t already visited.

For those really keen to learn more the Agroforestry Show takes place in Rickmansworth on 10 – 11 September. Otherwise, assuming our CS grant bid is accepted, you can come and help us plant our new trees!

Mike Pearey, Hillside – Farming with Nature
August 2025

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