Plant trees for productive farming

Why plant trees on farms?

Shelter and shade
With projected increases in summer temperatures, trees for shelter and shade on farms could be essential for animal welfare. 

When planting for shade farmers have the option of allowing tree saplings within hedgerows to develop or additional planting to create the desired effect.

Choosing deciduous trees will create the greatest amount of shade during the summer months when the need for shade is greatest.

When planted as a windbreak for crops native trees tend to work better than conifer trees because conifers tend to create a solid barrier thus creating turbulence on the leeside.
 

Pollination
Windbreaks also provide important shelter for crops and their pollinating insects. Restoration of lost hedgerow trees could benefit both pollinators and wildlife.
 

Water quality
Carefully sited, trees can reduce soil erosion and protect watercourses from both sedimentation and nutrient-rich runoff from manure and fertilisers.
 

Conservation / game cover
Well designed woodland increases the potential for game shooting acting as both a shelter and as a valuable area for feeding game.
 

Reduce emissions
New woodland can absorb carbon, helping to reduce net carbon dioxide emissions.

If you are looking to minimise pollution, trees located around livestock units can be used to intercept any emissions, in particular ammonia, smells and dust.

The high ratio of leaf surface to ground area of native trees makes them ideally suited to this purpose.
 

Wood fuel
Woodfuel can replace fossil fuels and play an important role in the mitigation of climate change.

Woods on farms can also be used to create a timber resource.

The time taken from planting a new wood on a farm to the first harvest of usable timber is likely to be around 15-20 years.
 

Building
Sustainable use of timber instead of materials such as concrete and steel.

Climate change and the shift in our weather conditions will have an effect on crops and livestock.

For more detailed information, read our policy statement on Trees and Farms.

 

Next step: See how the Woodland Trust can help you plant trees