New free digital agroforestry designer toolkit launched for farmers, estate managers and land agents

18/11/2024 - Permalink

New free digital agroforestry designer toolkit launched for farmers, estate managers and land agents

Related topics: Climate change / environment / Partner organisations

News from our partners Land App, Defra, The Tree Council, Natural England, and Shropshire Council

A brand-new free digital agroforestry designer toolkit is being launched by cloud-based mapping software company Land App and partners.

Aimed at farmers, estate managers and land agents across the UK, Land App's ground-breaking new Agroforestry Designer Toolkit aims to platform agroforestry - the intentional integration of trees into farms - and its many benefits to farmers, their livestock and nature. It is hoped that the toolkit will transform how agroforestry is planned and implemented across the UK, enabling it to become an integral part of wider landscape management which will help combat climate change, too. It has been launched ahead of National Tree Week (23rd November - 1st December) which marks the start of the tree planting season.

The Agroforestry Designer Toolkit was developed in partnership with Shropshire Council and with input from Edd Colbert (Agroforestry Design). It is funded by Trees Outside Woodland (a partnership project of Defra, The Tree Council, Natural England, and Shropshire Council) with support from the Forestry Commission, Nature-Friendly Farming Network, The Tree Council and the Woodland Trust.

The new toolkit is included in the free tier of Land App, so is available to all. By answering a short series of questions, it will generate bespoke agroforestry initial designs tailored to each farm in just 30 seconds, allowing farmers, estate managers and land agents to visualise what could be possible on their land.

The designs are flexible and can be customised to meet specific requirements, such as editing stem planting density or sharing ideas with an Agroforestry Advisor. The toolkit can also create initial designs that are compatible with current government incentives and payment schemes, making it easier to align with Defra's Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) and Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier.

The easy to use, site-specific toolkit supports three agroforestry design types to suit all farms and requirements:

• Linear Agroforestry: Helps users design rows of trees interspersed with crops or grazing areas - perfect for alley cropping or linear silvopasture. These designs can be modified and shared with an advisor, or used as a basis for an SFI plan in England, too.
• In-field Grid/Dispersed: Helps users plan tree spacing for shade, shelter and biodiversity - ideal for wood pasture or dispersed planting. Once generated, this can form a basis for calculating potential payment rates for wood pasture (through Higher Tier) or in-field agroforestry options (through SFI) in England.
• Traditional Orchards: Designed for those interested in creating or maintaining low-density orchards under schemes like the Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier, with guidelines on planting densities and potential payment rates.

Dan Geerah, Director of Growth at Land App said:

"Agroforestry offers vital benefits for farms, from boosting productivity and protecting livestock and crops, to enhancing biodiversity and combating climate change.

"However, it remains a niche practice, and many find it daunting to start. That's why we've developed an easy-to-use, time-efficient toolkit that generates automated agroforestry initial designs, helping farmers, estate managers, and land agents to quickly see how they could integrate agroforestry into their land.

"This tool is the perfect springboard towards making agroforestry more accessible, benefiting both the land and the environment."

Councillor Ian Nellins, Deputy Leader Shropshire Council and Cabinet Member for climate change, environment and transport added:

"The launch of this toolkit is a significant step forward in our efforts to combat climate change. Agroforestry not only supports sustainable farming practices but also enhances biodiversity and boosts our resilience against extreme weather events. It's a practical and innovative solution that aligns with our commitment to environmental stewardship."

Nick Rowles, Trees Outside Woodlands Project Officer, Shropshire Council commented:

"Agroforestry has many proven benefits and we feel that it is the ideal solution to the problems of climate change and nature depletion, whilst still enabling food to be produced from the countryside. We commissioned Land App to develop agroforestry design software as we realised that nothing like this existed and that this tool could enable farmers to make easy and informed decisions about how to plant up more trees outside woodlands on their land."

Farmer and Chair of the Nature-Friendly Farming Network James Robinson said:

"As farmers we invest in designing farm buildings, but often overlook designing our landscapes. The 2022 heatwave highlighted the need for change, especially as such extreme weather is set to continue."

"We began by restoring lost hedgerows and planting 10 acres of wood pasture to provide shade and shelter for our cattle, which has already brought several benefits. To secure the future of our farms in terms of climate resilience, we must act now, and I believe Land App's Agroforestry Designer Toolkit is the ideal starting point."

Free webinar Friday 29 November

Land App is also offering a free webinar on Friday 29th November (12:00-13:15, via Zoom) for those wanting to find out more. Attendees will hear from industry experts (including the Forestry Commission's James Ramskir-Gardiner, Independent Agroforestry Consultant Edd Colbert and the Woodland Trust's Hannah Marshall) who will explore the many benefits of the new toolkit and agroforestry more broadly.

The webinar will also include a short demonstration by Land App and will finish with a Q&A. To sign up, click here.

To start using the Agroforestry Design Toolkit, sign up for a free Land App account on www.thelandapp.com. A free guide on how to use each tier is also freely available.

Further information

For high-res images, to arrange interviews or for more information including Land App's case study, please contact Adela Cragg:
T: 07532 685 614
E: [email protected]

Notes to Editors

Available for interview
● Dan Geerah, Director of Growth, Land App
● James Robinson, Farmer and Chair of the Nature-Friendly Farmer Network
● Edd Colbert, Agroforestry Design
● Other partners, as required

Supporting quotes

Edd Colbert, Agroforestry Design said:

"I believe this tool offers a fantastic starting point for agroforestry design and, as a freely accessible tool, gives users the chance to imagine what various agroforestry systems could do for them without spending a penny. These initial designs can then be used as a basis for conversations with funders or advisors as well as for developing funded Agroforestry Plans as part of the new government subsidies."

Jackie Shallcross, Trees Outside Woodland project lead at The Tree Council said:

"Our Trees Outside Woodland agroforestry project revealed that one of the biggest barriers to establishing more trees in the farmed landscape is people feeling they don't have access to enough agroforestry knowledge, support or advice. This new feature helps tackle that by suggesting initial bespoke plans that will work for them and their land.

"Getting more trees established on farms will enhance the environment, help protect against the effects of climate change, and give nature a well-needed boost.

"We're excited to see the impact Land App could have."

Helen Cheshire, Lead Farming Advocate, the Woodland Trust said:

"Bringing more trees into the heart of farmed landscapes will help tackle the multiple pressures on land use in the UK. Agroforestry will help farms adapt to the challenges of changing weather patterns and at the same time will help the sector make its contribution to net zero and play an important role in nature recovery without compromising food production. Land App's new agroforestry tool will help steer the right tree in the right place for the right reason, avoiding trade-offs."

About Land App
● Land App is a digital mapping platform empowering land managers to unlock the full potential of their land through tailored mapping technology, strategic partnerships, and collaborative solutions.
● Land App's mission is to make digital mapping available to all, already their easy-to-use platform is trusted by over 30,000 individuals, and offers a generous free tier, alongside various subscription tiers for professionals wishing for more functionality.
● Land App aims to reduce the reliance on paper-based mapping and analogue applications for funding, saving landowners time, effort and money.
● Land App is working hard to facilitate increased natural capital funding applications and envisions a world where sustainable land management is the norm rather than the exception.
● Website: www.thelandapp.com, follow us on X, LinkedIn, and Instagram

About Edd Colbert/Agroforestry Design

• Edd Colbert works with farmers, landowners, and tree professionals to design and implement effective agroforestry systems. He delivers training on agroforestry design and plays an active role in supporting the UK's agroforestry movement. He was the lead organiser of the UK's first Agroforestry Show in 2023 and is a trusted partner to many organisations in the farming and forestry sectors.

About Shropshire Council

● Shropshire Council is deeply rooted in its rurality, with a significant portion of its land dedicated to farming. This rural character shapes much of the council's activities and priorities.
● Around 86% of the total land area in Shropshire is dedicated to agriculture, with more than one-third of it being arable, whereas in the entire UK 70-72% is considered agricultural land. Farming is 18% of the Shropshire County economy whereas within the UK it is 0.5%
● Shropshire Council is actively engaged in addressing the challenges posed by climate change. The council's climate change strategy focuses on several key areas, including reducing carbon emissions, carbon storage, enhancing climate resilience, and promoting sustainable practices.
● The council has made significant strides in reducing its direct carbon emissions, primarily through the adoption of a 100% renewable power supply. However, there is still work to be done in reducing indirect emissions and improving overall carbon performance.
● The Council is also leading the way in trialling the use of pyrolysis (a form of charcoal making) as a way of storing carbon long-term. This requires woodchips and biomass that can be sourced from woodland and tree management works.
● The council also recognises the physical impacts of climate change, such as more frequent extreme weather events, which affect agriculture, infrastructure, and public health and is a lead partner in the Severn Valley Water Management Scheme. Tree planting can be a cost effective means of reducing the impacts of climate change.
● Shropshire Council's approach to climate change is integrated into its broader strategic plans, ensuring that climate considerations are embedded in all aspects of council operations and service delivery. This holistic approach is essential for building resilience and adapting to the changing climate while supporting the local farming community and maintaining the rural character of the region.

About Trees Outside Woodland (A partnership project led by Defra, The Tree Council and Natural England)

● The Trees Outside Woodlands project is investigating the effective establishment of trees in a variety of non-woodland settings, such as farms. We want to support farmers to establish more trees on farms, adding trees to arable crops and/or livestock areas as well as expanded hedges and field corners in the farmed landscape, to diversify and support farm businesses.
● The Trees Outside Woodland programme is also exploring ways to: plant more trees in towns and cities, increase the uptake of tree schemes, increase tree planting in the farmed landscape, and develop more community nurseries.
● Learning from Trees Outside Woodland will be shared to support local authorities, communities and landowners to plant more healthy, resilient trees as they work to achieve net zero ambitions.
● The £4.8m, five year programme is funded by HM Government and delivered in partnership by The Tree Council, Natural England, the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs with five local councils - Chichester District Council, Cornwall Council, Kent County Council, Norfolk County Council and Shropshire Council.
● Website: https://treecouncil.org.uk/science-and-research/shared-outcomes-fund/

Partners who developed the Agroforestry Designer Toolkit with Land App:

Trees Outside Woodland is a partnership project of:

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