Stock photo for illustration purposes only.

The new research and feasibility competitions are open to farmers, growers, foresters, research organisations and businesses involved in agriculture and encourage collaboration on novel ideas and solutions addressing the most pressing challenges in farming.

Previous rounds have led to investment in automation to improve soft fruit yield; a ‘herd’ of lightweight, battery-operated, asparagus-harvesting robots; and the use of ultraviolet as a disinfectant in the dairy and poultry sectors.

Farming minister Mark Spencer said the competitions are aimed at promoting collaboration between farmers, research organisations and other industry stakeholders to help bring ground-breaking ideas to life.

“The success of the previous competition rounds and the broad scope of ideas coming forward showcase the range of possibilities available for driving up productivity and solving some of the industry’s biggest challenges. I encourage everyone to take a look at what’s on offer in the latest competitions and apply,” the minister said.

Guidance is now available for the third round of the Small R&D Partnerships competition, which seeks to help businesses develop a new farming product or service and take it to commercialisation on the open market.

Worth almost £10 million, it has been developed in partnership with the Transforming Food Production Challenge and is delivered by Innovate UK. Applications for the competition will be accepted starting from 14^th August.

Projects that received funding in the second round of the competition include studies exploring how to breed sheep with a naturally low carbon footprint and looking at renewable energy sources for powering operational processes on soft fruit farms such as automated picking, sensors and vehicles.

This comes alongside the third round of the Feasibility Studies competition, offering businesses and researchers £4.5 million to assess whether a new idea works in practice and decide whether further investment can be justified.

The competition looks for early-stage solutions that have the potential to substantially improve the overall productivity, sustainability and resilience of farming, and will open for applications on 18^th September.

Successful applicants in previous rounds include a study to identify fungal strains that can help fight against insect and fungal pests in wheat crops, reducing the costs associated with multiple applications of chemical pesticides, mechanical damage from repeated spray applications and crop yield losses.

Guidance for both competitions can be found on the gov.uk website and those interested are encouraged to read this ahead of applications opening.

Dr Katrina Hayter, executive director for the Healthy Living and Agriculture Domain at Innovate UK, said: “We look forward to supporting the next round of applicants and identifying promising partnerships that hold the potential to address the sustainability, efficiency, and net zero challenges confronting the UK’s agrifood industry.

“Feasibility studies mark the initial stage in researching an idea that could improve farming, while small R&D partnerships are a vital step to empowering businesses to forge novel farming products and services, paving the way towards successful commercialisation.”

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Last week, the government announced the launch of the new £10 million Animal Health and Welfare Infrastructure Grant, under which farmers will be awarded grants from £15,000 to £500,000 for upgrading cattle buildings and improve conditions for livestock.

Through the scheme, farmers will also be able to access funding for roof-top solar panels to improve the thermal insulation of calf housing while also providing a low-cost energy source.

Applications for the Infrastructure Grant will open later this year, and there are plans to extend the scheme to other livestock sectors, including pig and poultry.

The government has also announced that more than £19 million has been awarded to over 3,000 pig, poultry, sheep and cattle farmers who successfully applied to the first round of the Animal Health and Welfare Equipment and Technology Grant.

These grants, of between £1,000 and £25,000, will help farmers with items ranging from livestock handling equipment to reduce lameness in sheep or cattle or sealed water tanks to reduce disease transmission in outdoor pigs, to automated monitoring system and sensors which free up farmers’ time and limit environmental stress in poultry housing.

Both the Infrastructure and Equipment and Technology grants are part of the government’s wider Animal Health and Welfare Pathway, which supports farmers to transition to higher welfare practices and systems, whilst encouraging sustainable food production.

Commenting on the reception of the grants, farming minister Mark Spencer said: “It’s great to see such enthusiasm for these grants, with over 3,000 farmers receiving money through the Equipment and Technology Grant from today, and many more set to benefit with our investment in new and upgraded calf housing through our brand new Infrastructure Grant.”

The Animal Health and Welfare Infrastructure Grant will prioritise co-funding new and upgraded calf housing in order to promote better social contact and create a healthier environment for livestock.

Successful applicants could receive funding for a variety of building types – for example, the construction of A-frame buildings to house dairy calves from birth to weaning, or a mono-pitch building on a beef unit to house calves between 3-6 months.

Improved cattle housing will not only ensure calves are healthier, more resilient and productive, but will also enhance the resilience of farm buildings in the face of our changing climate. These infrastructure improvements, which are known to effectively reduce the risk of disease and calf mortality, will also benefit farmers’ bottom line.

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The new scheme will provide a seamless transition as the Welsh Government Rural Communities – Rural Development Programme ends, and will also replace the Glastir Advances, Commons and Organic schemes ending 31^st December 2023.

Through the scheme, farmers will be eligible to receive payments for protecting habitat land, which will also ensure the important gains made by Glastir are maintained. Introduced in 2013, Glastir has been the main sustainable land management scheme in Wales, providing farmers with financial support for taking climate-friendly actions.

The application window for the interim agri-environment scheme will open later this year, with contracts commencing in January 2024. Further details including the budget for the scheme will be announced following discussions with stakeholders prior to the start of the application window.

Rural affairs minister Lesley Griffiths commented: “The interim scheme is an important step as we progress towards the Sustainable Farming Scheme which will support farmers to produce food sustainably at the same time as addressing the climate and nature emergencies.”

With the end of Glastir, farmers and land managers in Wales will also be able to access all of the available Rural Investment Schemes, a number of which will prepare them to enter SFS. Currently, Glastir Advanced farmers are unable to apply to the Small Grants – Environment scheme.

The minister added: “Through Glastir, we have supported farmers to maintain and enhance habitat protection; we want to maintain this investment as we transition to the new Sustainable Farming Scheme.

“It’s important we have a scheme to ensure the valuable gains made under Glastir are not lost, and we’re also able to encourage more farmers to take part.”

Lack of support for organic farming sparks concern

Having reviewed the proposed interim scheme, the Soil Association has expressed concern over the apparent lack of support for organic farming systems, saying the announcement might come as a “shock” for Welsh organic farmers.

“We and other farming representatives recently called on the Minister to confirm that there would be no cliff-edge on funding for nature-friendly and low carbon farming ahead of the introduction of the Sustainable Farming Scheme,” said Soil Association head of policy Wales Andrew Tuddenham.

“Whilst the announcement goes some way to addressing this, we remain concerned that what appears to be a singular focus on habitat will miss the wider range of benefits secured through organic farming.”

Mr Tuddenham went on to point out that organic dairy farmers will be at a particular disadvantage, and that the proposals could be the “final straw” for those squeezed tight between high input costs and dropping milk prices.

The Association has also called for current Glastir contract holders to be prioritised in the application process to ensure uninterrupted support for those doing more for the environment.

“Now is not the time to heap more pressure on farmers who manage their land through Glastir for nature, carbon and sustainable food production goals. Welsh Government must bring forward its engagement with stakeholders to ensure that the scheme helps rather than hinders sustainable farming in Wales,” Mr Tuddenham stressed.

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Farming minister Mark Spencer sampling examples of agri-innovation at the Royal Norfolk Show.

Building on the Nature for Finance event at Downing Street last month, the Farming Innovation Investor Partnership Competition aims to accelerate agricultural research and development by blending grant funding with private investment.

It specifically seeks to support pioneering projects across the agricultural sector that have demonstrated the potential to grow and generate revenue, supporting the commercialisation of on-farm technologies that can then be rolled out across the industry.

The competition is set to open on Monday 24^th July, and projects are encouraged to apply from across the livestock, arable, horticulture, bioeconomy and agroforestry sectors.

Applicants can bid for up to 45% of project costs in grant funding, which must be matched by at least twice the amount in private investment. There is no limit to the level of private investment for projects, and previous schemes have shown the ability to attract significantly higher levels of investment.

The competition, which is funded by Defra, run in partnership with UK Research & Innovation (UKRI) and delivered by Innovate UK, represents an extension of the government’s £270m Farming Innovation Programme.

Examples of projects already benefitting from the scheme include autonomous livestock monitoring systems, robotic fruit harvesting systems, concentrated light weeding using AI, intelligent robotic cow cubicles and digital crop management for the early detection of glasshouse pests and diseases.

By supporting projects at the later stage of innovation, the new competition is expected to drive increased commercialisation and adoption within the industry, and also aims to elevate the profile of the agri-tech sector by positioning it as a central focus for UK investors.

Moreover, it delivers on commitments made at the UK Farm to Fork Summit in May to boost growth, innovation and improve sustainability across the food supply chain in order to keep the nation fed while delivering nature recovery for our countryside.

Farming minister Mark Spencer commented: “Supporting a resilient, sustainable and innovative agriculture sector that puts food on our tables while safeguarding the environment is my priority, and we are working with farmers to deliver this through our new farming schemes and grants.

“By bringing together cutting-edge agri-innovation and public and private investment, we can unlock new technologies that help make our farm businesses as productive as possible.”

In order to apply, projects must be led by a sole UK registered micro, small, or medium-sized business and exhibit clear and tangible connections to farmers, growers, agri-businesses, and other potential end-users. Investors for the programme will be selected from the pool of Innovate UK Investor Partners which currently comprises 80 partners and growing.

For further details on how to apply, visit the Innovate UK website here.

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The event brought together farmers, land managers, investors and conservation experts to identify new investment opportunities that drive forward actions to mobilise investment in nature recovery while continuing to maintain the country’s food production.

At the event, which was organised on the back of the UK Farm to Fork Summit last month, Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Thérèse Coffey announced the launch of an additional round of the Natural Environment Investment Readiness Fund (NEIRF) later this year to address barriers to accessing private investment for nature recovery.

This round will be the first time the NEIRF focuses specifically on the farming sector, helping farmers to come together at a landscape scale to combine their offer to investors, and enabling more types of farmer to access and benefit from nature markets.

Ahead of the event, the secretary of state commented: “Today’s event is an important step forward in bringing together farmers and financiers to invest in nature and unlock new opportunities to improve the productivity, profitability and sustainability of farm businesses.”

The NEIRF provides funding for projects that have the potential to produce revenue from the benefits nature provides to attract and repay investment, as well as projects able to produce an investment model that can be scaled up and reproduced.

To date, 86 projects across England have received development grants of up to £100,000 through two competitive rounds of the £10 million NEIRF in 2021 and 2022.

One of the projects to receive funding from the NEIRF was The Wendling Beck Exemplar Project, which aims to transform land use for environmental benefit while also selling ecosystem services such as Biodiversity Net Gain.

Explaining more about its mission, project lead Glenn Anderson said: “Wendling Beck is a pathfinder project for financing land-use change through new nature markets.

“Projects like Wendling Beck are critical in safeguarding long-term food security – through mitigating existential challenges to climate, water and biodiversity – and enhancing the national natural capital reserves which underpin our economy.”

Mobilising nature finance

The secretary of state has also announced the launch of the pilot phase of a new version of the Green Finance Institute’s (GFI) investment readiness toolkit which will provide a tailored framework offering farmers advice on how to create investable nature finance projects.

In the pilot phase, the GFI will gather insights from stakeholders – including those in attendance at yesterday’s event – to ensure the toolkit meets the specific needs of farmers.

The government will also consult later this year on specific steps needed to mobilise additional nature finance through voluntary markets and protect against the risk of greenwashing, seeking input from experts in finance, business, environment, and farming sectors.

In addition, Defra has recently partnered with the British Standards Institution to ensure the adoption of sound scientific standards underpinning nature investments and avoiding greenwashing.

Archie Ruggles-Brise, estate manager of Spains Hall Estate in Essex, commented:

“The opportunities for land managers to engage directly with finance professionals, tech providers and local authorities around environmental markets are rare, especially at this early stage of the market. So to be afforded that chance through the Essex County Council led NEIRF project is exciting.

“This could be game changing for farms, as once the income side is proven it opens the door for all kinds of support for transition to alternative, more sustainable, land use choices. It’s all about having more choice, especially beyond commodity markets, now and in the future.”

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The fund is set to test out new ways of bringing together satellite, wireless and fixed line internet connectivity, helping to support farmers and tourism businesses in accessing fast, reliable connectivity in remote areas for the first time.

The investment will also help rural businesses in trial areas make the most of new agricultural technologies by improving connectivity on their land, such as by using new drone technology to monitor crops and livestock in real-time, support landscape and wildlife conservation efforts, or develop interactive experiences for tourists.

The new fund is part of a wider government initiative to improve housing, transport, digital connectivity and jobs for rural communities and drive growth in the sector, as set out in a new publication ‘Unleashing Rural Opportunity’ released today.

The plan will be formally unveiled at the Future Countryside Conference by Secretary of State for Rural Affairs Thérèse Coffey, who commented:

“The countryside makes up over 90% of the UK’s land mass, it is home to millions of people, and contributes over £250 billion to our economy in England alone. Rural areas are rich in human and natural potential with strong communities and entrepreneurial businesses.

“We want to go further in unleashing that potential and support people in rural areas to build the sustainable future they want to see. Unleashing Rural Opportunity sets out what we have already delivered for rural communities and new initiatives to build on that record.”

The plan is split across four broad themes of housing, communities, connectivity and growth, including proposals to expand internet provision and scale up the availability of housing in rural areas.

It also includes proposals to make it easier for farmers to convert their redundant agricultural buildings into family homes by cutting red tape. Planning rules could be changed to provide a more generous threshold delivered through the more streamlined planning process, while providing local authorities with new powers to safeguard against second homes and holiday lets.

Moreover, the government has pledged to provide additional funding for the NPCC’s new national rural crime unit to help keep farmers and rural communities safe by tackling anti-social behaviour, equipment theft and fly-tipping. New legislation is set to be introduced shortly to increase fly-tipping and litter penalties and a consultation launched into using these fines to fund further action on fly-tipping.

In addition, there are plans explore the launch of a new fund to help smaller abattoirs improve productivity and enhance animal welfare with the aim to open the fund for applications later this year.

Commenting on the publication, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said: “I have pledged to build a better future for people in this country, and our rural communities are right at the heart of that promise.

“That’s why I’m determined to make sure that their interests are front and centre of all our work to grow the economy and strengthen our communities – so that every part of our country gets the support it needs to thrive.”

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The projects receiving a share of the funding pot under the Farming Innovation Programme include:

• Ground-breaking genetics research projects which could reduce methane emissions in cattle by 17% per generation, and produce a reliable UK-grown protein source that can replace soya in human foods
• Investigations into the use of drones and artificial intelligence to inspect and monitor animals to enable farmers to take action should animals go missing or need attention
• Efforts to develop biopesticides using fungal strains that help tackle pests in wheat crops, and to pin-point the genetics for creating slug-resistant wheat

Over 50 innovative projects have been awarded a share of over £18 million so far in the latest rounds of the Farming Innovation Programme, titled Climate Smart Funding, Sustainable Farm-Based Protein Feasibility Round 2 and Research Starter Round 2.

The government has also announced the launch of a new ‘On-Farm Environmental Resilience’ competition which will see £12.5 million awarded to innovative projects aimed at creating a more productive, resilient and sustainable agricultural sector.

Farmers and growers have until Wednesday 19th July to apply for up to £1 million in project costs to drive the development of new technology and innovative farming methods, with a focus on practical solutions that make a tangible impact on farms.

Example projects include finding new ways to detect pests and prevent and manage disease; helping farmers to reduce their fertiliser use; boosting soil resilience; and managing threats from extreme weather and flooding.

Projects researching how gene editing and methods including regenerative cropping could boost productivity and crop resilience are also encouraged to apply.

The competition is made up of two strands:

• A feasibility strand, with a focus on identifying emerging solutions to develop innovations in agriculture, forestry and horticulture – further details can be found here
• An industrial research strand, aimed at advancing emerging solutions to new products, processes and services within the sector – further details can be found here

Secretary of State for Agriculture Thérèse Coffey said innovation is a key factor in attaining a resilient, productive and sustainable agriculture sector and the new investment is intended to help the industry rise to the challenge.

“Alongside our new farming schemes, these grants will help to support farmers and pave the way for a technological transformation that will help produce food sustainably for generations to come.”

Katrina Hayter, executive director of Healthy Living and Agriculture of Innovate UK, added: “The competitions once again demonstrate the sheer breadth and quality of innovation within the UK agri-food space.

“We’re proud to be able to help deliver these funding and partnership opportunities to the sector, bringing together farmers, growers, technologists and researchers in a common aim of making the UK food system more sustainable and resilient.

The new grants follow the government’s pledge to launch a new support package for the farming sector, announced at the inaugural Farm to Fork Summit earlier this month.

This includes substantial investment to unlock the potential of precision breeding following royal assent for the Genetic Technology (Precision Breeding) Act, as well as a working group to bring plant breeders, food manufacturers and retailers together to determine the best approach for presenting these products to British consumers.

To read more about the 50 winning projects awarded funding under the Farming Innovation Programme, visit the UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) website here.

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Building on the success of the first round of the scheme launched last year, the second round will support up to 25 projects and will be administered by Natural England and the Environment Agency.

The projects will be selected based on their environmental and social impact, value for money and suitability for the scheme.

The focus will be on proposals involving at least 500 hectares, which could include landscape-scale projects creating and enhancing woodland including temperate rainforest, peatland, nature reserves and protected sites such as ancient woodlands, wetlands and salt marshes.

Landscape Recovery sits alongside Countryside Stewardship and the Sustainable Farming Incentive as the government’s Environmental Land Management schemes. It was designed to encourage collaboration and working in partnership to protect and enhance landscapes in England, delivering environmental benefits alongside supporting farmers in feeding the nation.

Commenting on the announcement, secretary of state for food and farming, Thérèse Coffey, said: “Landscape Recovery is one of our three Environmental Land Management schemes which provide the funding and support for farmers in England through the biggest change in a generation.

“The scheme is already supporting 22 inspiring landscape-scale projects across England with development funding and the second round will help more farmers and land managers take collective action through involvement in bespoke projects that will make a real difference in reaching net zero and supporting valuable habitats, while continuing to support sustainable food production.”

Projects that received funding through the first round last year are already demonstrating how food production and environmental delivery can go hand in hand.

The River Axe Landscape Recovery project on the Somerset/Dorset border has brought together 23 farmers, smallholders and landowners, including dairy, beef, sheep and arable farms, to restore a 23.6km stretch of the upper river.

The project will support regenerative farming and extensive grazing on the land neighbouring the river corridor to reduce diffuse pollution, phosphates and sediments entering the river, enhancing water quality.

Dr Tony Juniper, chair of Natural England, commented: “Agriculture has a huge role to play in Nature recovery, ensuring that a thriving natural world is at the heart of sustainable food production.

“I hope that through this scheme more farmers and land managers will join forces, making significant progress towards the statutory Nature targets and providing the food and public goods that our society depends upon.”

Ongoing projects show promise

Alan Lovell, chair of the Environment Agency, welcomed the continuation of the Landscape Recovery scheme, adding the second round presents an opportunity for farmers and land managers to carry out ambitious land-use changes and habitat restoration.

“The round one projects – only launched in September 2022 – are already showing great promise, such as the River Axe project in Devon supported by the Environment Agency to improve the habitats and water quality of the Axe.”

“This second round of Landscape Recovery will take us further down the track toward becoming a nation that is resilient to climate change and rich in ecological diversity,” he added.

The first round of the scheme received a high volume of applications, out of which 22 projects were selected, focusing on restoring England’s threatened native species and improving water quality of streams and rivers.

Specifically, the projects involve creating and enhancing habitats from chalk streams and temperate rainforest to moorland and wetland, restoring over 600km of rivers, and protecting at least 263 species such as water vole, otter, pine marten, lapwing, great crested newt, European eel and marsh fritillary.

Alongside the River Axe project in Devon, works are ongoing in Yorkshire under the Three Dales project, where a consortium of ten farmers, landowners and conservation organisations led by the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust are aiming to restore a large area of the western Yorkshire Dales uplands, creating habitats for species including black grouse, curlew and ring ouzels.

Funding has also been granted to the Darent Valley Farmer Cluster in Kent which is seeing farmers join forces with Kent Wildlife Trust and more local organisations to carry out chalk stream restoration in the Kent Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Guidance on how to apply to the second round of the Landscape Recovery scheme can be found on the government website here.

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With BPS being phased out, uncertainty around the ELM schemes, rising energy costs and an unsettled economic climate, a novel opportunity to drive up bottom line is welcome news for British farmers.

“Farmers who are already deploying regenerative farming practices, turning soil into carbon sinks, are able to access a new revenue stream from carbon farming and the sale of carbon certificates, at the same time as improving the economic and sustainability of their farm businesses,” explained Thomas Gent, Agreena’s UK market lead.

Agreena is a carbon farming company that enables farmers to earn carbon certificates, equivalent to one tonne of CO2 emissions removed from the atmosphere, via its soil carbon programme through an easy and intuitive process.

“In fact, farmers can simply send the form they have just completed for their BPS application to Agreena and one of our team will be able to estimate the potential revenue achievable from the sale of carbon certificates following harvest 2023,” Mr Gent added.

The deadline for enrolling in the scheme to receive payments for harvest 2023 is 30^th June. Although the process is relatively quick, there are steps that Agreena must carry out to ensure a smooth sale of carbon certificates from this year’s harvest.

Farmers who are interested in the programme can find out more by attending the ‘How to Enrol in a Carbon Programme from data entry to income’ webinar, taking place on Tuesday 16^th May 5:00pm-6:00pm. The event is hosted by Agreena and the farming cooperative Fram Farmers, and registrations can be made here.

Explaining more about the scheme, Mr Gent added: “The enrolment process consists of choosing which fields are to be included in the AgreenaCarbon programme, and entering the relevant field data such as field location, size, fertiliser and cover crop usage, etc.

“After harvest, farmers log into the AgreenaCarbon platform and report their actual field data around the date they have provided.”

The programme will then quantify the carbon removed and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, and farmers will be issued verified carbon certificates currently valued at £25-50. On average, one hectare can generate between one and two carbon certificates.

Once issued, farmers can choose to keep their certificates, sell them, or ask Agreena to sell them to verified companies on their behalf based on current market demand and prices.

“Farmers who have already started the transition to regenerative farming should not miss out on being financially rewarded for their efforts,” Mr Gent said. “Send Agreena your completed BPS application forms and see the potential revenue available from joining AgreenaCarbon.”

For more information about AgreenaCarbon, visit agreena.com or email thomas.gent@agreena.com.

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Research shows biodiversity on UK farms has fallen to around 30% of 1970 levels. Intensive farming practices including chemical usage, frequent cultivation and the loss of UK hedgerows, orchards and wild spaces are all contributing factors. Farmland accounts for 71% of the UK countryside, so getting biodiversity right is an essential part of addressing the climate, nature and food security crises.

Q: So Stuart, could you talk us through the composition of your land?

Sure, I’ve got about 200 acres in Leicestershire that I mainly farm through a contractor.  We’re predominantly arable – pretty much all combinable crops – with some ridge and furrow. We also have about 40 acres of woodland including some SSSI ancient woodland, that we manage in-house. Around a third of the fields are grass strips and margins to try to help with run off, which is a particular challenge in the area due to heavy clay soils.

Credit Visit Woods Comp/WTM

Q: You mentioned water run-off, what kind of effect has that had?

Well, a large part of the land is in grass strips and margins to accommodate the semi-regular flooding. We have a number of silt capture ponds, which are designed to help reduce soil erosion and nutrient loss. These work by capturing the soil particles from the water before it flows off the farm. As well as some leaky dams – made with natural materials – which were built in partnership with the Allerton Trust a couple of years ago and help to slow the flow of the water courses during flash flooding. Soil degradation and erosion is a huge challenge. Along with compaction, it’s estimated to result in losses of about £1.2 billion a year and damages the productivity of UK soils for food production. It’s not uncommon for farmers to lose thousands of tonnes of soil per year in run-off of nutrient dense soil. We’re trying through margins, grassland, and silt capture ponds to limit that.

Q: What’s your approach to soil health?

Credit Philip Formby/WTM

Within the agriculture sector I think we all know that if you can get your soil right it has huge benefits for the overall land health and farm business. In previous years, like many other farmers, we took it for granted that we always needed to put a certain amount of fertiliser, pesticides or herbicides on the land. But as regenerative agriculture is gaining traction, it’s really changed our approach. We test the soil condition for nutrient levels around every 4 years now so we can be sure that we’re only adding fertiliser where it’s really required. We’ve applied the same approach with herbicides and pesticides too, which we know will have a positive impact on the land from the reduction in chemicals. We’ve managed to make some savings from a financial perspective as well, which has been particularly welcome given the recent volatility of fertiliser prices.

Other than that, we’re trying to take steps to a move towards sewage sludge, chicken manure and green manures. This year we planted a mixture of black oats, clovers and phacelia as overwintered cover to help improve soil condition. There have been limited impacts on the yields so far, but it will add to the soil structure and help towards healthier soils in the future.

Credit Simon Cusworth/WTML

Q: Do you have any advice on improving biodiversity and farm resilience?

Credit John Bridges/WTML

One of the biggest opportunities for improving biodiversity is tree or hedge planting, because of the diverse range of species trees support. Although we’ve planted a small area next to the silt capture ponds, we’ve taken the decision not to plant lots of new trees on our land because we’ve already got woodland cover over such a large proportion. But where that’s not the case, farms can really benefit from the introduction of new trees in helping to build overall resilience.

The Woodland Trust’s MOREwoods and MOREhedges schemes are a great introduction to tree planting because there’s much less paperwork involved compared with other schemes and you’re able to start with planting a much smaller area. The minimum planting area is just 0.5ha which can be split into smaller parcels to support farm goals. Whether that’s designing shelterbelts to protect crops and livestock from extreme weather, or even providing an alternative food source, to the provision of habitats for wildlife, including pollinators and beneficial insects.

Credit John Bridges/WTML

With tree planting it’s important to look at the opportunities from a whole farm perspective, to make sure that you’re adding value to the farm rather than taking land out of production. It’s definitely possible to find a good balance though, and putting the right tree in the right place can have significant benefits. Our new planting has been used to soak up excess water and bind the soil around the edges of the silt capture ponds – but each farm is different, and it’s important to tailor a solution to fit the challenges of the individual land and develop a holistic sustainability strategy.

Find support for your farm

If you’re considering planting trees on your land, MOREwoods provides tailored advice and guidance from local woodland creation advisers along with the trees and tree protection you need for your project – and covers up to 75% of costs.

Find out more at woodlandtrust.org.uk/plant.

MOREwoods is funded by Lloyds Bank to support sustainable farming.

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