Agroforestry
How farm and forest work together
Put simply, agroforestry means farming with trees.
Farmers worry that planting trees means giving up productive land and losing the basic payment, which it doesn’t.
Agroforestry can mean anything from shelter belts, hedgerows and timber plantations to a fully integrated farming system, where livestock and/or arable crops and trees are interdependent.
Farming with trees has many benefits for land, livestock, wildlife – and for business.
Advice on agroforestry
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Benefits of agroforestry
Trees can store carbon, improve soil health and biology, provide shelter and forage for livestock and wildlife, and give farmers additional income. Hear from other farms, crofts and estates across Scotland who are putting agroforestry into practice.
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How to get started with agroforestry
Whether you're looking to introduce a silvopastural or silvoarable system, here you'll find expert advice and farmer experiences to help you figure out how to get started with agroforestry.
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Grants and guidance
There are a number of organisations across Scotland who can provide advisory services to help you navigate the grants process. We've put together a summary of who to contact when, useful links pointing you to the information you might want to look at on their websites, and stories from other farmers who've gone through the process already.
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Agroforestry in Action
Exploring the practicalities of integrating trees on farms.
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Agroforestry Resources
Find all you need to know about agroforestry in Scotland in our resource hub: these are new resources produced by us to inform adoption of agroforestry.
Want to learn more about agroforestry?
We run regular, free events on sustainable farming methods. Attend a Soil Association Scotland event to learn more about integrating farming and forestry.
