Integrating trees into a silvopastoral landscape in West Berkshire

This collaborative project with a landowner in West Berkshire has focused on integrating trees into an established agroforestry project, with an emphasis on diversifying species in existing hedgerows and establishing new hedgerows.

Species diversification of hedgerows both restores the boundary function as well as enhances biodiversity and its connectivity across the farm. This will be enhanced by integrating trees, such as oak, into the hedgerow and managing them to emerge from the top of the hedgerow into mature trees.

The planting of new hedgerow not only increases available habitat for a wide variety of plant and animal species but also establishes connectivity across the farm between hedgerows and stands of woodland within and adjacent to the farm.

Within this landscape the project will increase on farm biodiversity and contribute to its enhancement more widely. In addition, the scale of activity will contribute to reducing atmospheric carbon, helping to mitigate climate change.