Agroforestry, Wood-Pasture & Water Meadow Restoration on a Dartmoor Farm

We will explore the thought process involved of a plan currently underway to plant 20,000 trees on an upland farm. Hall Farm offers a unique opportunity to be inspired and to learn how established parkland trees, previous woodland creation and mature hedgerows have supported farming in the past and how they can continue to benefit a upland livestock farm today.

The event will demonstrate how farmers/landowners could incorporate a broad range of tree planting ideas to create new woodland, implement agroforestry and develop wood-pasture, from new and existing woodland alongside the attraction of lucrative financial support payments for these actions.

There will also be time to explore opportunities for wetland habitat creation and potential historic water meadow restoration to benefit both nature and farm resilience, whilst also discussing the process involved for implementing/funding for these plans

Hear from Angelique McBride, from Dartmoor Head Waters, as she explains the natural flood management work we look to undertake at Hall Farm and the long-term advantages it offers for both productivity and biodiversity.

Plymouth and South Devon Community Forest are on hand to talk about how they have supported the funding of tree planting at Hall Farm and can do the same for your farm if you are interested.

Andy Crabb will provide insight into the archaeological elements that need to be considered when tree planting and undertaking water meadow restoration.

There will be a guided walk with Seb, tenant farmer, and Ellen, Woodland Trust advisor, around Hall Farm to talk about the different tree planting schemes. Learn about the tree planting schemes already in motion—why specific fields were chosen, how trees integrate with livestock grazing, and how they support climate resilience and animal welfare.

Lunch and refreshments will be provided.

This event is part of Dartmoors Dynamic Landscape, which is supported by National Lottery Heritage Fund.

• About Andy Crabb -

Andy’s works in an archaeological post for both Dartmoor National Park Authority and Historic England. He has been working on Dartmoor and the wider area for over 20 years now under various versions of this role. He provides management advice concerning all aspects of the Historic Environment and over recent years his work is increasingly focussed on the integration of the historic environment into nature-based projects, both on a landscape and local scale.

• About Angelique McBride -

Angelique works for Dartmoor National Park as a natural flood management officer on the Dartmoor Headwaters Project.

• About Plymouth and South Devon Community Forest -

Plymouth and South Devon Community Forest (PSDCF) has been working with partners and communities to plant trees and create woodland since August 2021. PSDCF delivers DEFRA’s Trees for Climate Fund across South Devon, enabling tree planting schemes from three trees to tens of thousands. The project is working towards a goal of 500 hectares of woodland creation from the heart of Plymouth to the edges of both moor and shore, across 140,000 hectares of land.

• About Seb -

Seb Powell and partner Freya moved to Hall Farm six months ago with their family and herd of Jersey X Beef-shorthorn cattle. The couple previously farmed on the northern side of Dartmoor where they built up their business selling raw milk, yogurts and beef directly to the local community. Freya and Seb have been involved with the Devon Silvopasture Network that has been trialling wood-pasture creation and more recently at Hall Farm the couple are involved with a bold and exciting plan to plant more tees in a range of various shapes and forms, with tips and guidance from the Woodland Trust, their new landlords.

• About Ellen Smith -

Ellen brings 3 years of experience in agroforestry and environmental farm practises, helping farmers use trees to boost yields, improve animal health, and build resilience. She’s particularly inspired by the Dehesa system in Spain and is working to adapt it for the South West.