Woodland pasture refers to areas that have substantial tree cover, but at lower densities than standard woodland, and retain herb pasture, rather than woodland flora, as the ground cover. Grazing animals can be farmed on the site, while reaping the rewards of tree planting for the environment. In fact, more grass can be produced in these systems compared to conventional fields with few trees, since the trees protect the grass from extreme weather and slightly raise the temperature of the local microclimate, thereby extending the grass-growing season.

The sheep also benefit from the additional shelter provided by the trees and from having more woody vegetation to eat. Some studies have shown that sheep grazing in these silvopasture systems have lower parasite burdens, because they spend more time browsing in the trees, so take in fewer worms. Also tannins, which are more abundant in tree matter than grass, have anti-parasitic properties. We'll be studying the worm burdens of sheep grazing in this area compared to other fields on the farm, as well as with records from previous years, to understand the effects. 

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The new project will also have benefits for soil health, water pollution and run-off, biodiversity and carbon sequestration. The deep root structures of trees enrich the soil by supporting a diverse mycorrhizal network and associated microorganisms, and adding organic matter to the soil through foliage. Healthier soils are less prone to erosion, and can store more water. The field in question floods frequently due to run-off from farms and roads uphill from us, and this flows through the field and into a stream. Tree planting in this area should allow the field to capture more of this flood water, depollute it, and release it slower into the stream, thereby reducing flood risk and water pollution. Trees also offer many benefits to biodiversity (did you know a single Oak tree can support 280 different insect species!), and for this project we're interested in wildlife associated with marginal habitats. This refers to the edges of habitats, where one transitions into another - in this case, grassland and woodland. Many wildlife species rely on marginal habitats, for instance where their food source is out in the grassland, but their nests need sheltered woodland. We're going to be studying harvest mice numbers as part of this project, by searching for their abandoned summer nests in the winter, to see whether we've boosted their numbers.

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Finally, we're hoping to support some older trees that are already on site. We are lucky enough to have several mature Oak trees in the area already, which are extremely popular with the sheep for shelter from both hot sun and heavy rain. This can damage the trees through root compaction, so we're hoping that by offering the sheep more opportunities for shelter, the pressure will be reduced on these trees and they can enjoy their old age in peace!

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   --Katie