Where trees meet bees: Agroforestry for pollinators

In this insightful session Ben Raskin leads a dynamic panel of pollination experts. Together, they’ll explore why attracting pollinators is essential for thriving farms, uncover practical strategies to boost biodiversity, and reveal how agroforestry can unlock even greater benefits for your business and the environment.

For farmers who have already implemented agroforestry or are interested in getting started. Pollinators and trees aren't just a nice-to have. Start leveraging them as core parts of your farm productivity and climate resilience.

We will be joined by:

Ben Raskin
Ben has worked in the commercial growing and farming for 30 years with a wide range of practical horticultural experience. He now focuses on integrating trees into farming systems. He is Head of Agroforestry for the Soil Association and keeps his hand in on the field implementing a pioneering agroforestry system at Helen Browning’s farm in Wiltshire. He also works as an independent advisor, trainer, and authors books, most recently “Silvohorticulture” and the “The Woodchip Handbook”

Vicki Hird
Vicki Hird MSc FRES is Strategic Lead on Agriculture at The Wildlife Trusts UK and was formerly Head of Sustainable Farming at Sustain. An award-winning campaigner, writer and strategist, she has worked for 30 years on food, farming and the environment. Vicki has a Masters in Pest Management and is a Fellow of the Royal Entomological Society. Her recent book, ‘Rebugging the Planet’, celebrates the vital role of insects and invertebrates.

Mark Lea
Mark and Liz Lea’s Shropshire farm has been organic for 20 years, with a sustainable system focused on diversity. Their rotation includes clover leys grazed by sheep, milling oats, peas for Hodmedods, and 20 types of milling grains sold directly to millers and bakers. Recently, they established an agroforestry system across 55 ha of the farm, planting 8 native tree species for biodiversity and carbon sequestration. Future plans include coppicing for biomass fuel and annual biodiversity surveys.

Sarah Holdsworth

Sarah Holdsworth is Managing Director of Bee Happy Plants, a small family run business based at Lakehayes Organic Nursery established and put into Soil Association organic conversion in 2002. Bee Happy Plants & Seeds was awarded a grant through Innovate UK funded by Defra for an interactive database called APP4FUTURE. APP4FUTURE provides practical, information for farmers to find pollinator-centric agroforestry trees which also provide benefits to farmland and even diversification income for products such as high value medicinal honey, which may soon be in high demand to replace antibiotics.

Agenda

7pm - Introduction

7.10pm - Speaker presentations

7:40pm - Moderated panel discussion

7:55pm - Q&A

8:15pm - Close

We encourage attendees to bring their questions to the panel through the Q&A, where there will be plenty of time for discussion.

Get involved with a regional agroforestry network:

Soil Association are supporting regional agroforestry networks, bringing farmers together to learn about the benefits and practice of having more trees on farm. These networks are open to farmers, farm managers and landowners. You don't have to be an organic farmer to join in, just interested in the latest knowledge and research, and in learning from other land users. Each network hosts farm walks, and explores a diverse range of practices relevant to your area. You can find out more here: Join an agroforestry network

This technical webinar is part of our Agroecology at Scale Programme, part of the ground-breaking Farm to Fork Partnership between Ocado and Soil Association which has been established to help transform the way we eat, farm and care for our natural world.

Recording and photography

Please be advised that recording and/or photography by Soil Association may take place at this event. To decline consent, you can get in touch with us at info.farmingandlanduse@soilassociation.org

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