FARMERS are being invited to participate in a joint pilot study between the Forestry Commission and Newcastle University.

The study is looking to understand how farmers in Northumberland see incorporating agroforestry as part of their farming practices. It is a research partnership which will be running from this month until July.

Agroforestry is the deliberate integration of woody species onto farmland and includes practices such as grazing animals under trees, alley cropping, windbreaks, riparian buffers and forest farming.

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To achieve these aims the research will involve carrying out 15 farm visits with the county’s farmers, who may or not be interested in agroforestry.

The visits will last for around two hours and will involved an interview with the farmer as they give a guided tour of the farm to reveal how they see their farm in the future.

The study will also conduct interviews with key organisational stakeholders that are available to help farmers integrate agroforestry into their farming systems.

The pilot study will also involve one-day workshops on June 23 and 24, which will host a mix of farmers, agroforestry experts and government stakeholders and will be an opportunity to learn more about implementing agroforestry and the support available to do this.

James Ramskir-Gardiner, woodland officer, West Northumberland, said: “This research will build networks within Northumberland for people interested in agroforestry, provide information for further scientific research that is based on farmer perspectives, and help us understand how challenges can be overcome for land managers.

“If you would like to participate please contact Dr Marion Pfeifer marion. pfeifer@newcastle.ac.uk or Eleanor Moore e.s.moore2@ newcastle.ac.uk for more information.”

He added: “We also welcome suggestions about what farmers would like to get out of the project, focussing on the aims of understanding the challenges / opportunities for them and any needs for their farm business.”

This article originally appeared in our sister title, the Hexam Courant