Funding for woodland research

Posted 11 May 2011

More than £22,000 has been awarded to researchers at Harper Adams University College to conduct reviews on the benefits of farmland trees.

The project, sponsored by the Woodland Trust, will produce guidance for farmers and the government and will identify current research gaps.

It will be conducted by staff at the University College in Shropshire, including Professor of Crop Physiology and Research Co-ordinator, Professor Peter Kettlewell.

He said: “The project aims to bring together and summarise from many different sources what is already known in scientific literature about the possible benefits of growing trees on farmland.

“The focus will be on sheltering crops from excessive loss of water and reducing drought effects, reducing greenhouse gas emissions such as carbon dioxide, and limiting soil erosion and the pollution of watercourses.”

Mike Townsend, Senior Advisor at the Woodland Trust, said; "We believe that trees have an important role in helping adaptation of farming systems and supporting productive agriculture.

“We hope this work will provide the evidence needed to produce practical guidance for farmers and growers."

This is one of many research projects taking place at Harper Adams and will begin next month, running until December. For more information about research, visit www.harper-adams.ac.uk/research