Agroforestry systems including Forest Gardens for food production

This course is for you if you would like to incorporate trees within your growing area, or would like to understand better the benefits of trees within your plot.

Helping you to understand how to design trees into your system for agriculture or horticulture, possible tree crops – some will surprise you – options for different conditions and benefits

Topics include:

• Silvo-pasture
• Silvo-arable
• Forest Gardens
• Syntropic systems
• Hedging
• Shelterbelts & Windbreaks
• Silvo-horticulture and tree rows

Please wear sturdy footwear and dress for all weathers!

Suitable for:
Anyone with an interest in Agroforestry systems, Forest Gardens and how to design a planted area for your site.

About the event (including practical elements):
Using the site, polytunnel, existing trees and hedges, we will explore various agroforestry systems suitable to different landscapes, with particular attention paid to Forest Gardens.
We will assess the possible crops for commercial forest garden production here in the UK; what can be grown outdoors, key species for each planting layer and a design for your site.
You will be able to see our crops growing, taste some and ask questions about why we have chosen what we grow.
There will be an opportunity to buy some of our produce.

You will learn:

• Agroforestry systems suitable for UK sites
• Agroforestry food production systems
• Benefits of agroforestry
• How to start to design a Forest Garden
• Complementary plants
• Unusual trees & shrubs for food production
• Forest Garden plants
• Management plans for a Forest Garden
• You will leave with a good understanding of various agroforestry systems and their benefits to soil health, the environment and to us as producers.

Next steps:

We offer training and support on site, as well one-to-one consultancy and design for forest gardens and agroforestry systems.