05/03/2026
You plant trees knowing full well you’re unlikely to see them at their best. That’s part of the job.
These new rows are now in the ground as part of a silvoarable research project we’re involved in, looking closely at the spaces between the trees as much as the trees themselves. It’s easy to focus on what stands tall. But often it’s the ground layer — the understory — that holds the real potential.
Working alongside researchers from the University of Reading through the Trees-in-Fields Network, we’ll be exploring how different ways of managing that strip might support wildlife, strengthen soil structure, improve moisture retention and, if we get it right, offer an additional income stream too. Because isn’t just about good intentions — it has to stack up on paper as well as in the field.
There’s something steadying about this kind of work. No grand gestures. Just measured steps towards farming that feels resilient, productive and alive. gives us a way to grow food while rebuilding the systems that support it — roots in the soil, birds in the hedges, crops in the field.
It’s early days. The guards are still bright. The soil still freshly turned. But this is how the long game begins.
If you’re walking a similar path with trees on your land, we’d love to hear how you’re managing the space between them.
