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Silvopasture roundels

The benefits for livestock health and welfare through integrating trees into permanent pasture systems is well researched and evidenced.

Roundels (also referred to as enclosures or clusters of trees) are one example of how to introduce trees to a pasture system with multiple benefits for your livestock.

Silvopasture roundels provide shelter and beneficial browse for livestock.

Credit: WTML

What are silvopasture roundels?

Silvopasture roundels are a practical way to bring trees onto your farm at a reasonable cost. Roundels can be different shape and sizes and, for ease, many opt for a square format approach. Each roundel consists of three sections: a central parkland tree, middle rings of nurse trees and an intermediate crop, and an outer mantle of palatable shrubs or coppice species.

Roundels are relatively simple to plant, easily replicated and can be adjusted to suit different soil types, farm outputs and livestock. They also add beauty to the historic landscape with a natural aesthetic in keeping with traditional wood pasture.

Benefits of silvopasture roundels

Silvopasture roundels can deliver a host of benefits over a long period of time, including:

  • providing shelter and beneficial browse for livestock, which can extend their range and feed options and reduce loafing
  • creating an island or stepping stone for wildlife across otherwise open areas
  • offering a source of pollen and berries for wildlife
  • providing intermediate products when thinned, such as firewood, charcoal or woodchip.

The design of a roundel also benefits the structure itself. The climax parkland tree in the centre is protected and drawn up by the surrounding nurse trees and shrubs, while a root protection area for the climax tree is already defined by the extent of the shrub mantle.

This is one example of how to create a roundel (explained below). However, they can be tailored to the goals of the farm.

Credit: WTML

How to plant a silvopasture roundel

This roundel design is planned to a diameter of 15m and made up of four different parts: one central tree, two middle rings and an outer mantle. Each part of the roundel should be spaced 2.5 metres apart, include different tree species and increase in size.

Central tree

This central feature (or parkland) tree is a large tree which offers long-term benefits.

Middle rings

The two middle rings should be made up of nurse trees and intermediate crop trees which can provide firewood, chip and charcoal. The first ring should measure around 16.7 metres, while the second should measure around 32.48 metres.

Outer mantle

The outer mantle contains palatable shrub or coppice species which provide short to medium-term benefits. This ring is usually around 48.9 metres and, as a future root protection area for the central tree, needs some extra consideration. Make sure you offset the surrounding posts with planting and keep it free from weeds by applying wood chip for the first three years of establishment.

Materials

The essential materials you'll need to create a silvopasture roundel are:

  • 20 posts (one every 2.5m)
  • 50m roll stock netting
  • 10m3 wood chip
  • 40 plants.

If required, you may also need:

  • cattle protection (one strand of barbed wire around the top)
  • bull protection (two strands of barbed wire around the top and middle)
  • rabbit netting (at the base)
  • 40 rabbit/vole guards
  • 40 canes.

Recommended tree species

Habitat type

Central tree

Middle rings

Outer mantle

Acidic lowland (dry and infertile soils in the lowlands – particularly in the southeast – on moderately acidic brown earths, podzols, base-poor groundwater gleys, sands, gravels and old alluvium).

English oak, sessile oak, beech, hornbeam.

Hornbeam, silver birch, downy birch, rowan, aspen, crab apple, wild cherry.

Hazel, goat willow, grey willow, hawthorn, holly, elder, blackthorn, ivy.

Base-rich lowland (dry, calcareous to neutral soils in the lowlands or southerly regions. Typically overlay limestones, shales and clays and heavy, lime-rich deposits. Include rendzinas, calcareous brown earths and some base-rich groundwater gleys. Range from infertile to fertile).

English oak, sessile oak, field maple, beech, hornbeam, small-leaved lime, large-leaved lime.

Midland hawthorn, crab apple, silver birch, downy birch, rowan, aspen, wild cherry, field maple, common whitebeam, wych elm, wild service.

Grey, goat, white, purple or osier willow; alder, small-leaved lime, hawthorn, holly, ivy.

Wet lowland (wet or seasonally waterlogged lowland soils – typically in the south and east – on alluvial soils and floodplains, beside waterbodies, and on gleys or other soils with a high water table (but not deeper peats)).

English oak, sessile oak, beech, hornbeam.

Hornbeam, silver birch, downy birch, rowan, aspen, crab apple, wild cherry.

Hazel, goat willow, grey willow, hawthorn, holly, elder, blackthorn, ivy.

Pollen and fruit for wildlife value

Wild pear.

Elder, crab apple, willow.

Blackthorn, bramble, rose, wild mint, ivy.

Fodder trees for grass-based dairy systems

Oak (provides shelter and shade).

Rowan (provides fat and fibre).

Aspen (provides metabolisable energy, protein and fibre), willow (provides zinc, cobalt and selenium).

Habitat type

Acidic lowland (dry and infertile soils in the lowlands – particularly in the southeast – on moderately acidic brown earths, podzols, base-poor groundwater gleys, sands, gravels and old alluvium).

Base-rich lowland (dry, calcareous to neutral soils in the lowlands or southerly regions. Typically overlay limestones, shales and clays and heavy, lime-rich deposits. Include rendzinas, calcareous brown earths and some base-rich groundwater gleys. Range from infertile to fertile).

Wet lowland (wet or seasonally waterlogged lowland soils – typically in the south and east – on alluvial soils and floodplains, beside waterbodies, and on gleys or other soils with a high water table (but not deeper peats)).

Pollen and fruit for wildlife value

Fodder trees for grass-based dairy systems

Central tree

English oak, sessile oak, beech, hornbeam.

English oak, sessile oak, field maple, beech, hornbeam, small-leaved lime, large-leaved lime.

English oak, sessile oak, beech, hornbeam.

Wild pear.

Oak (provides shelter and shade).

Middle rings

Hornbeam, silver birch, downy birch, rowan, aspen, crab apple, wild cherry.

Midland hawthorn, crab apple, silver birch, downy birch, rowan, aspen, wild cherry, field maple, common whitebeam, wych elm, wild service.

Hornbeam, silver birch, downy birch, rowan, aspen, crab apple, wild cherry.

Elder, crab apple, willow.

Rowan (provides fat and fibre).

Outer mantle

Hazel, goat willow, grey willow, hawthorn, holly, elder, blackthorn, ivy.

Grey, goat, white, purple or osier willow; alder, small-leaved lime, hawthorn, holly, ivy.

Hazel, goat willow, grey willow, hawthorn, holly, elder, blackthorn, ivy.

Blackthorn, bramble, rose, wild mint, ivy.

Aspen (provides metabolisable energy, protein and fibre), willow (provides zinc, cobalt and selenium).
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This work has been supported by players of People's Postcode Lottery.

Not sure where to start?

We offer expert advice and funding to help you integrate trees into your farming system through our MOREwoods, MOREhedges and Trees for Your Farm schemes.

To find out more about working with us on a bespoke agroforestry plan for your land, get in touch at plant@woodlandtrust.org.uk.

For more information on appropriate species for your site location and growing conditions, please see our tree species handbook.

More agroforestry systems