Agroforestry and farming
Agroforestry and farming
Author
Introduction
Agroforestry, the practice of planting trees on farmland, has been around for thousands of years but its benefits have often been forgotten as land has been prioritised for food production. As the UK faces the increasing problem of soil erosion caused by intense farming, some organisations such as the Soil Association and the Forestry Commission are regaining interest in this ancient practice which can lead to nutrient-rich soil, increased production and more space for wildlife, amongst other things.
2022 Award
Ian Brown (CF 2019) is Chair of Ouseburn City Farm and Regional Chair of the Forestry and Woodland Advisory Committee in the North East of England. Inspired by learnings from his Fellowship, he is a strong advocate of agroforestry and believes now is the time to develop this practice across the UK. As the UK is no longer in the EU, it is no longer affected by the Common Agricultural Policy and there is an opportunity for farmers to operate outside previous constraints.
Ian has been awarded one of our Activate grants to bring agroforestry into the mainstream of UK farming practice, with the aim of bringing at least 5% of all farmed land in the UK into agroforestry by 2035. In order to achieve this, he will use the grant to make the case for agroforestry to landowners, growers and policymakers alike, promoting its many benefits and sharing the learnings from his Fellowship. He will develop ways to share knowledge on agroforestry practice and build an Agroforestry Movement for Change through writing reports, meeting with organisations, farmers and landowners, speaking at events and conferences all over the UK, applying for funding, generating media attention and creating a coalition of organisations and individuals working together to campaign on this issue. Through this work, he hopes to influence policymakers and lobby the government to change policy in all four regions of the UK. Throughout these efforts, he also aims to raise awareness of the vital, multidisciplinary work that farmers do, so that they receive recognition and a fair price for their outputs.
Ian will run this activity in a two-year programme of knowledge sharing and policy encouragement which he hopes will lead to a more balanced landscape across the UK by 2035.
Ian’s Fellowship explored ways to transform lives and landscapes with trees.
2022 Award
Ian Brown (CF 2019) is Chair of Ouseburn City Farm and Regional Chair of the Forestry and Woodland Advisory Committee in the North East of England. Inspired by learnings from his Fellowship, he is a strong advocate of agroforestry and believes now is the time to develop this practice across the UK. As the UK is no longer in the EU, it is no longer affected by the Common Agricultural Policy and there is an opportunity for farmers to operate outside previous constraints.
Ian has been awarded one of our Activate grants to bring agroforestry into the mainstream of UK farming practice, with the aim of bringing at least 5% of all farmed land in the UK into agroforestry by 2035. In order to achieve this, he will use the grant to make the case for agroforestry to landowners, growers and policymakers alike, promoting its many benefits and sharing the learnings from his Fellowship. He will develop ways to share knowledge on agroforestry practice and build an Agroforestry Movement for Change through writing reports, meeting with organisations, farmers and landowners, speaking at events and conferences all over the UK, applying for funding, generating media attention and creating a coalition of organisations and individuals working together to campaign on this issue. Through this work, he hopes to influence policymakers and lobby the government to change policy in all four regions of the UK. Throughout these efforts, he also aims to raise awareness of the vital, multidisciplinary work that farmers do, so that they receive recognition and a fair price for their outputs.
Ian will run this activity in a two-year programme of knowledge sharing and policy encouragement which he hopes will lead to a more balanced landscape across the UK by 2035.
Ian’s Fellowship explored ways to transform lives and landscapes with trees.