Once seen as a niche practice, Agroforestry is now being embraced as a practical – and profitable – land management system that benefits farmers, the environment and biodiversity alike.
From boosting soil health to providing shelter for livestock, integrating trees into farming is an investment in a future-proofed, sustainable and resilient future for your land.
Our tree shelters have protected a huge variety of different planting projects over the years, and we believe agroforestry has a key role to play in shaping the future of farming.
But planting trees in active farmland comes with its own set of challenges, from animal browsing and extreme weather to exposure to herbicides, pesticides and mechanical weeding. Therefore, the right protection is needed to ensure that your saplings survive and thrive to maturity.
What is Agroforestry, and Why Branch Out?
Agroforestry is exactly what it sounds like: the integration of trees and shrubs into farming systems. Whether it’s silvopasture (trees and livestock together), alley cropping (trees and crops side by side), or hedgerows providing natural windbreaks, the benefits of agroforestry are clear.
It’s a way to enhance biodiversity, improve soil structure, provide shade and shelter for animals when trees are established, and even create additional revenue streams through timber, fruit, or carbon sequestration. Not to mention, it makes for a rather picturesque landscape! In short, it’s a win for everyone.
Recognising the financial benefits of agroforestry, various grants are available to support farmers in adopting these systems, such as the England Woodland Creation Offer (EWCO) and the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI). Some schemes even provide maintenance payments to ensure long-term success, making agroforestry a valuable investment for landowners both environmentally and financially.
A Farming Connect event in Pembrokeshire put the spotlight on agroforestry, with farmers exploring how trees could work alongside their grazing livestock. One farm, Pencedni in northern Pembrokeshire, has been implementing agroforestry for years, seeing first-hand how trees improve grazing conditions while offering long-term environmental gains.
But while agroforestry seems like a no-brainer, it’s not as simple as planting a few trees and hoping for the best.
Protecting Trees is the Root of the Matter
It doesn’t take a veteran farmer to realise that a tree planted in a field of sheep or cattle without protection won’t stand a chance. Agroforestry faces the same challenges as any tree-planting project: exposure to the elements, pests and the ever-hungry mouths of browsing livestock and wildlife.
Beyond that, it is also critical to safeguard saplings from the impact of farming operations. Agroforestry trees are put at risk from herbicide and pesticide applications, as well as mechanical weeding, all of which can damage or kill young trees before they are established.
This is why tree shelters – sometimes known as tree tubes or tree guards – are at the heart of making agroforestry work. Made from either recycled and recyclable or biodegradable materials, tree shelters help protect saplings from the above risks whilst creating a microclimate to support early growth and – crucially for farmers – help safeguard their investment from land management activities, wildlife and livestock.
Agroforestry in Action: Stoke’s Restoration Project
To see how tree shelters play a vital role in agroforestry and broader reforestation efforts, look no further than this recent woodland creation project in Staffordshire.
Landowner Jonathan Capener embarked on a 12.26-hectare planting project to restore historic woodland and enhance biodiversity on his farmland.
The project aims to reconnect pockets of ancient woodland and create a more resilient landscape for the future. But with resident deer and rabbits in the mix, tree protection was a key consideration.
Tubex Recycled and Recyclable Tree Shelters were used to ensure that the saplings were able to survive and thrive without cutting off wildlife corridors.
By choosing the right tree protection, the project was able to successfully balance ecological restoration with practical land management – something that can be very tricky to do!
Agroforestry & Tubex: Advancing Growth Together
As agroforestry gains traction, it’s clear that the integration of trees into farmland isn’t just a victory for the environment; it can be a smart move for farmers looking to build resilience as well as diversify their income.
Through our range of tree and shrub shelters, we are proud to play our part by providing the protection young trees need to establish and thrive – whether in agroforestry systems, woodland restoration or hedge planting schemes.
We go further than protecting saplings by taking responsibility for what happens to our shelters after their job is complete. That’s why we developed our Collection & Recycling Programme. With over 1 million shelters collected so far and more than 20 free collection hubs across the UK, we’re working to make it as easy as possible to adopt a circular approach to tree protection.
By working with nature, farmers, landowners, and conservationists, we can create landscapes that are not only productive but also sustainable for generations to come.
And with our proven shelters in place, those trees stand a fighting chance of making it there.
