This practical event for farmers, land agents and landlords will focus on the theme of agroforestry implementation, including practical considerations around planting, policy and permissions. Special attention will be given to barriers relating to land tenure using the Dartington model as a case study of alternative tenant/landlord working models (https://www.dartington.org/trust-test-new-multi-agency-agroforestry-model-48-acres/).

Draft agenda:

9.30 Welcome and coffee

10.00 Introductions

Estate tour (tractor and trailer) – Old Parsonage Farm (multiple tenants), Schumacher fields (horticulture and top fruit), Huxhams Cross (horticulture and biomass) to include:

• Farmers perspective on agroforestry as a tenant farmer (John Perkin, Marina O’Connell and Jane Gleeson)
• Practical considerations around planting a new agroforestry system (Mick Bracken, Woodland Trust)

13.00 – 14.00 Lunch

• Panel discussion: Agroforestry as a tenant farmer and as a landlord/ land agent: how to make it work. Panel chaired by Ben Raskin to include Caroline Foot (TFA), Richard Jackson (NT), Stephen Briggs, Jeremy Smith (Savills)
• Future direction of policy support for agroforestry in the UK
• UK Agroforestry Network – results from previous meetings first viewing of factsheets, handbook, videos coming out of the project
• Development of Operational Groups/ Field labs – opportunities for RAIN members to work together post AFINET. Example: EIP Operational Group on Woodchip for Fertile Soils

16.00 Discussion and close