Lovewell Blake event explores farm benefits of tree planting

The farmers' evening at Halesworth Golf Club from 7.30pm on November 8 is jointly hosted by the National Farmers' Union and accountancy firm Lovewell Blake.

The meeting will hear from Fe Morris, a land use advisor for the Forestry Commission, who manages her family's organic smallholding in north Suffolk and also works as a "wellbeing in nature" facilitator for the Green Light Trust and volunteers for the Suffolk Tree Warden Network.

Esther Rosewarne from the Woodland Trust (Image: Newman Associates PR)

Also speaking will be Esther Rosewarne, a Norfolk specialist who runs the Woodland Trust’s Claylands project, which gives free advice on all aspects of farm woodlands and trees, including woodland creation and management, agroforestry and ancient and veteran tree care.

The pair will discuss how farming and forestry interact, covering the business benefits of creating and managing farm woodlands including alternative revenue streams from timber and carbon credits, increased livestock welfare and reduced nutrient run-off.

They will also cover wider environmental benefits such as pollution capture, flood mitigation and increased biodiversity, and outline the available grants for woodland management and tree planting.

Lovewell Blake agricultural partner Ryan Lincoln, who will chair the event, said: "Everyone is aware of how important trees are to our countryside, but with the advent of ELMs (Defra's new environmental land management schemes), woodland management is likely to feature much more in many farm business plans.

"We are delighted to have two of the region’s most knowledgeable experts on the subject at our next farmers’ evening, and I’m sure it will be a relevant, interesting and engaging event."

The event is free, but places must be booked in advance by visiting www.lovewell-blake.co.uk/events.