Theme
Trees on stock farms for climate resilience
Dates
Thursday 15th - Friday 16th June
Location
CAFRE (College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise) Greenmount Campus, 45 Tirgracy Road, Antrim BT41 4PS.
Programme
Thurday 15th June
09:00 hrs - bus departs from Greenmount Agricultural College
10:00 hrs AFBI Loughgall (visit arranged by Dr Rodrigo Olave)
To include agroforestry research projects with pigs, ash silvopasture, wild cherry silvopasture and update on other related research at AFBI
Snack lunch
14:30 hrs Depart Loughgall
15.30 hrs Arrive Greenmount
Visit to see tree protection at Greenmount site
Return to college (walking distance) for 16:45 hrs
17:00 hrs Farm Woodland Forum AGM (Fulton 1 classroom, Greenmount College)
19:30 hrs Dinner in Greenmount College
Friday 16th June
09:00 -12:00 hrs Lecture progamme (Fulton 1 classroom, Greenmount College)
12:00 hrs Lunch
12:45 Depart Greenmount College
The farm walks will be held on three farms:
a) A brief stop to look at the sycamore silvopasture of Ian, Ben and Thomas Gibson, Broughshane. 12 ha of sycamore were planted on their farm in 1991, and their cattle and sheep graze the silvopasture in rotation. 115 Longmore Road, Broughshane, BT43 7HR
b) The farm of Reami and Sinead Mathers in Cushendall. Silvopasture with Dexter cattle and Cactus Guards and a shelterbelt system of hedgerows to protect the farm from severe north-easterly winds as well as to improve the welfare of the livestock. 115 Layde Road, Cushendall, BT44 0NH
c) Broughgammon Farm in North Antrim, to see silvopasture with rows of fruit trees and berry bushes, hedgerow restoration, wildflower meadows and many more abundant and plentiful habitats that flourish on the farm. Charlie Cole, 50 Straid Road, Ballycastle BT54 6NP
17:30 hrs Return to Greenmount College
Depart from college, stay at college until Saturday morning, or depart after the third farm visit to explore the North Antrim coast area (short taxi ride to Ballycastle, Giants Causeway etc.)
Accommodation
It is anticipated that most people will wish to stay at Greenmount College. The Maldron and the Holiday Inn (both within 3 miles of the college and Belfast (International) airport) are recommended.
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Name |
Address |
Distance from Greenmount |
Distance from Belfast International Airport (mls) |
Approx room price (Double plus breakfast/day) |
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Greenmount College (CAFRE) |
45 Tirgracy Road Belfast BT41 4PS |
- |
3.3 |
Single only £24.50 exc breakfast |
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Maldron |
Belfast International Airport, Crumlin, BT29 4ZY https://www.hotelsone.com/
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2.9 |
On site-walking distance |
C £130 |
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Ballyrobin Country Lodge |
144-146 Ballyrobin Road, Aldergrove, BT29 4EG, |
3.7 |
1.0 |
120 |
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Dunsilly Hotel |
20 Dunsilly Road, Antrim, BT41 2JH, United Kingdom |
3.9 |
5.6 |
140 |
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Dunadry Hotel |
2 Islandreagh Drive, Dunadry, Antrim, BT41 2HA, |
3.4 |
5.3 |
220 |
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Holiday Inn Express |
Ballymena Road, Antrim, BT41 4LL, |
2.9 |
5.3 |
120 |
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The Stables B&B |
96 Milltown Road, Antrim, BT41 2JJ, United Kingdom |
3.9 |
5.6 |
95 |
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There are other B&B s in the area as well |
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Bursaries
The Farm Woodland Forum is offering bursaries to attend the meeting.
a) 2 bursaries for students (£200 or equivalent in Euros) towards receipted travel, accommodiation and conference costs. Applicants should send a poster abstract, a brief biography and a supporting letter from a course director or supervisor. The successful students are expected to present a poster and to write a short report on their reflections on the meeting for the Farm Woodland Forum website.
b) 2 bursaries for farmers (£200 or equivalent in Euros) towards receipted travel, accommodation and conference costs. Outline your interest in agroforestry and your willingness to either write a short article with reflections on the meeting for the Farm Woodland Forum website, or potential contribution to the poster or talks session of the meeting.
c) 2 bursaries for people from diverse or underrepresented backgrounds (£200 or equivalent in Euros), towards receipted travel, accommodation and conference costs. In the event of over-subscription for places, allocation will be decided by a random draw.
For those interested, contact Ben Raskin (email braskin@soilassociation.org) by 31st May 2023.
Registration Details
It is anticipated that the approximate conference fee (including dinner on Thursday 15th June, 2 lunches, coach travel) will be £65.
Registration is through Eventbrite.
- You plan to attend the conference?
- What is your accommodation preference (this will be booked separately) and how many nights will you stay
- Do you have any dietary requirements we should notify the catering staff at the College about.
- What are your travel arrangements
- Would you like to submit a paper/poster for consideration to present around the theme Trees on stock farms for climate resilience at the meeting? If so we would need a title as soon as possible. We apologise for the late notification.