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Rooted in water: Agroforestry for resilient farms and rivers

Rooted in water: Agroforestry for resilient farms and rivers

23 June 2026 Argoforestry

On 2nd June we joined Affinity Water and Soil Association at Woodoaks Farm for a farm walk and workshop exploring how agroforestry can support catchment scale water quality improvements.

The day began with a presentation from Dr Josiah Judson, who shared insights from his PhD research, setting the scene for discussions around the role of trees in agricultural systems. Specifically, his research looked at:
Farmer Liam McNulty then shared his experience of putting agroforestry into practice. He described how moving away from viewing trees and farming as separate systems has changed the way he manages his land, with a focus on integrating trees and hedges across the whole farm.

'On our holding the woodland and the farm were always separated by a fence - and in my mind the two traditions were also somehow distinct. The Whole farm Tree Plan really broke these barriers down and enabled me to start seeing the benefits of integrating trees and hedges into farming enterprises. I am a firm advocate of agroforestry, and try to implement it across as much of the farm as possible'

In the afternoon we hosted a farmer-led research workshop, identifying current knowledge gaps and barriers, shaping ideas for new on farm trials, and exploring what farmers want to test and learn more about in their own systems.

🌳Participants identified surface runoff, nutrient loss, and soil water storage as key challenges, with interest in how trees can help slow flow and improve infiltration.
🌳There is clear interest for practical evidence on agroforestry design, particularly on layouts, species, and approaches that can deliver measurable water and soil benefits.
🌳Current barriers to uptake include cost, confidence, and proving impact, highlighting the importance of farmer-led trials to test solutions in real farm systems.

If you're interested in learning more about potential on farm trials, please get in touch at info@innovativefarmers.org.

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