The Farm Woodland Forum - Agroforestry with widely-spaced trees

Definitions

Put simply, agroforestry is using trees on farms.

The International Centre for Research in Agroforestry (ICRAF) provides the following definition of agroforestry.

Agroforestry is a dynamic, ecologically based, natural resources management system that, through the integration of trees on farms and in the agricultural landscape, diversifies and sustains production for increased social, economic and environmental benefits for land users at all levels.

There are two main types of agroforestry system with widely-spaced trees which are appropriate to the UK.

• Silvopastoral systems in which trees are mixed with grazing animals.
• Silvoarable systems in which trees are planted in rows with an arable crop in the alleys between.
• Images of both types of system are available.