Events

Thinking about integrating trees into your farm?

Join the Irish Agroforestry Forum for an insightful webinar with Clive Bright.

Clive raises 100% pasture-fed organic beef on his 120-acre farm in Ballymote, Co.Sligo, and he sells his beef direct through his business ‘Rare Ruminare’. His livestock are a mix of traditional breeds such as Hereford, Shorthorn, Angus, Irish moil and Galloway, well suited to thrive on the farm’s species-rich grasslands. He uses Holistic Planned Grazing, an adaptive grazing rotation that gives pastures adequate time to recover between grazing events. Using ecological principles and monitoring, Holistic Planned Grazing also allows him to formulate a plan to have his animals in the right place at the right time for the right reasons. This management has dramatically increased the diversity on his farm. Working with the land’s natural capacity and the right genetics, Clive has shown you don’t have to supplement the animals’ diet if you work with nature. Clive is a great advocate for Agroforestry – merging trees and agriculture. He says, “Woodland pasture or silvopasture is the ideal habitat for livestock, providing shelter and shade and a source of additional nutrients. Trees over pasture add another level of green leaves multiplying the amount of solar energy the land captures; this enhances the mineral and water cycle and restores soil health, bolsters biodiversity and the overall resilience and productivity of the farm”. Over the last few years, ponds and wetland creation have become an integral part of Clive’s farm. He rationalises that if all life requires water, we should try to harness and cycle every drop that falls on the farm. From simple measures like making slit traps in old drains to new pond construction, holding water in the landscape and allowing it to soak deep into the soil rather than draining it away is his goal. Most of his wetland features have multiple uses, like slowing water down in the landscape, wildlife habitats, and reservoirs for livestock drinking water.

Find out more and register here.

Woodland creation & management to maximise biodiversity: What needs to be considered?

Come along to this Integrating Trees Network event and hear from Kenny Kortland, Environmental Policy Advisor, Scottish Forestry, who has a wealth of practical knowledge on how to create and manage woodland to meet your biodiversity objectives. We'll discuss the basic principles of site selection, key species to plant, integration of open habitat, and creation and management of future habitat to maximise biodiversity benefits. We'll also be joined by two of our host farmers - Katharine Lowrie, Auchgoyle Farm, Tighnabruaich and Richard Lockett, Knockbain Farm, Dingwall - to discuss their practical experiences of creating and managing woodlands for biodiversity. We'll have representatives from Scottish Forestry and Woodland Trust with us too. Join our speakers and ask your questions. Book your free place here. Find out about the Network, its hosts and useful info here.

 Your farms future: Trees an option & opportunity? Why & How they can benefit your business

Join the Integrating Trees Network for an informative and engaging evening all about how trees can benefit your farming business now and in the future. You’ll first hear from Davy McCracken, SRUC who will share his practical experience on how trees have an important part to play in the future of our farms. Our hosts for the night Andrew Adamson, Netherurd Home Farm, West Linton and Andrew Barbour, Mains of Fincastle, Pitlochry will introduce us to their farms. Sharing why and how they have successfully planted trees as part of their farm business, the benefits this has brought, as well as the process and challenges they have faced. We will have staff from Scottish Forestry and Woodland Trust joining us. Book your free place here. Find out about the Network, its hosts and useful info here.

Join the Irish Agroforestry Forum on Wednesday, November 20th, for an informative webinar with IAF member John Sherlock, exploring how effective management of thinnings can shape timber quality and value. Drawing on his extensive experience as a farmer, forester, sawmill operator, timber processor, and wood turner, John will discuss the full plantation cycle—from early thinnings to the final crop—and share insights on how to design and manage a system that produces high-quality timber. The session will cover practical approaches to species selection, thinning strategies, and options for adding value through woodcraft, small-scale processing, or direct marketing. Participants will also gain an understanding of how to ensure timber quality for the next generation and align forest management practices with both economic and environmental objectives.

Find out more and register here.

Thinking about integrating trees and poultry system?

Join the Irish Agroforestry Forum for an insightful webinar with Mike Mallett. Mike is farm manager of Maple Farm Kelsale, a 138-hectare family farm situated 3 miles from the Suffolk coast. The farm converted to organic in 2004 and is mostly arable with some permanent pasture, large areas of woodland, some vegetables and fruit, and laying hens. Arable crops grown include wheat (including heritage varieties), beans, spring triticale and peas, and there are two years of clover or vetch-based leys within the rotation. Meadows are grazed by visiting sheep. Most of the cropping revolves around the layer hens which live on 18 hectares of 3 fields (there are approximately 2,700 hens currently). The farm is comprised of many small fields surrounded by hedges. Hedgerows are left to grow quite wild and have 6m borders. 30 ponds enhance the farm biodiversity and provide an extensive ditch network. There is a flour mill on site (where the heritage wheat goes) and the bran and middlings produced go to the hens as feed. The horticultural unit produces year-round vegetables and fruit for their on-site farm shop. Flour and eggs are also sold through the shop, and the eggs are also sold through local Waitrose and Co-op stores. Half of the egg production going to London; supplying a home delivery service and various independent stores.

Find our more and register for the event here.