In this episode we discuss trees on farms with agroforestry consultant Edd Colbert.
Edd talks us through various approaches to incorporating trees and woodlands, and what to think about when getting started with creating an agroforestry plan for your own land.

Farming and forestry have often been viewed as separate disciplines but, increasingly, the argument for merging the two is making sound economic and environmental sense.

Agroforestry is an exciting way of using trees and woods on farms to assist food production and/or produce forestry products within a farmed landscape.

We saw some of Edd's designs on the ground earlier in the year during the Agroforestry Open Weekend at FarmEd.

FarmEd is a regenerative agriculture demonstration farm in Gloucestershire which aims to educate everyone on food and farming systems that nourish people and regenerate the planet.

In our woodland livelihoods section we hear from Keziah Rose, a forester in mid Wales, about her journey into forestry.

Links:
Edd Colbert: https://agroforestrydesign.co.uk
FarmEd: https://www.farm-ed.co.uk/
Focus on Forestry First: https://www.focusonforestryfirst.co.uk/
Agroforestry Open Weekend: https://agroforestryopenweekend.org/
Landworkers' Alliance: https://landworkersalliance.org.uk/

Welcome to the first ever episode of FUTURE WOODS podcast, where we ask our guests to go beyond sustainability to investigate what a truly regenerative relationship between woodlands and humans might look like. We uncover challenges, from the demise of the rural economy to the over simplified ‘polarized’ debates preferred by the media: “timber production vs biodiversity”, “spiky trees vs fluffy trees” – do we have to choose, or can we have our woody cake and eat it? Does size matter when it comes to forestry? Are large-scale commercial operations always worse for the environment than the little guys? And we discuss solutions, bringing our neglected woods back into management, rebuilding a ‘wood culture’ in the UK, and seeing this incredible resource properly appreciated once again.

In conversation with:

OLLY CRAIGAN, Land Workers’ Alliance – Woodland Coordinator

CAROLINE AYRE, CONFOR - National manager for England

Woodland Livelihoods

Also in this episode, we hear from REBECCA OAKS, author of ‘Coppicing and Coppice Crafts’, ‘Greenwood Crafts’ and ‘Making Charcoal and Biochar’, who shares details of her career making a living from the woods.

Links:

https://www.coed-preseli.co.uk/
https://landworkersalliance.org.uk/
https://www.confor.org.uk/
Share your ideas for future episodes: https://forms.gle/dqQMa1m2WW5mLfwv9

With thanks to the Local Connections Fund for making this episode possible.