How to get started with agroforestry

Planting trees on farms can help boost productivity, resilience, and wildlife - but how do you get started?

We've collected expert advice and farmer experiences on Scotland-specific best practice when it comes to agroforestry.

Read more below about how Scottish farmers, crofters and landowners are putting agroforestry principles into practice in silvo-pasture and silvo-arable systems.

Starter resources

Man crouching to examine soil.

Getting started with agroforestry

Niels Corfield, a specialist in soil health, pasture health, agroforestry, and whole farm planning, offers his advice on how to get started with an agroforestry project.
Man crouching to examine soil.
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Small-scale agroforestry

Watch videos from crofters and small-scale farmers sharing their experiences of getting started with agroforestry.
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Making woodland work on the farm

Since moving to Crannich Farm, Isle of Mull in 2003, Robin and Sam Sedgwick have planted thousands of trees – with plans to plant thousands more.
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Video resources

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Watch: Integrating trees into your farm business

Watch our webinar with Rosa Bevan and James Reid, of small farm and market garden Tap o’ Noth, Aberdeenshire, and arable farmer Roger Howison, of 537-acre Parkhill Farm in Fife, to find out how trees are helping them achieve their goals.
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Watch: tree planting on your farm

Two webinars with agroforestry expert Niels Corfield to help you get started with planting trees on your farm.
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Watch: Trees to improve your farm

Watch our webinar on how to use trees to improve your farm with Iain Macdonald of Ardoch and Threepland farms, Virginia Harden Scott of Scottish Forestry, and David Robertson of Scottish Woodlands.
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Watch: Sheep and trees Q&A

Watch this online event recording, which focused on sheep and beef farmer Andrew Whiteford's experience creating a small woodland in his Dumfries and Galloway with the support of the Scottish Forestry Sheep and Trees grant.
Planted saplings grow in lines behind a wire fence.

Watch: Money grows on trees

Watch this online event recording with forestry experts CONFOR, Tilhill, Scottish Forestry and sawmill James Jones Ltd about adding value to your farm with forestry.
Planted saplings grow in lines behind a wire fence.

Learn more about agroforestry

Here are a few links to further information on getting started in agroforestry that you may find useful:

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Events

Find out what events related to climate and nature-friendly farming, or agroecology, are happening near you in Scotland.

Events