We are delighted to be taking part in Agroforestry Open Weekend 2023
Our farm
Our family farm has: + trialed suitability of different fruit and nuts for our hill top location + 3 hectare fruit, nut and willow agroforestry (funding from Woodland Trust PUR) + 3 hectare wood with diverse native trees (planted 2011) + biodiverse plants to improve soil health and livestock diets + grasses for carbon storage, improved water quality and reduced flooding + wildlife scrapes + seed crops for birds and flower rich areas for pollinators + rare breed Wiltshire Horn Sheep + renewable electricity generation + Sustainable Farm Incentive pilot and Countryside Stewardship Schemes
Chris has worked on agroforestry projects in West Africa and Southern Europe, he’s an Honorary Professor at Nottingham University and Head of Research at the Allerton Project. His latest book is Farming with the Environment
Miriam has a teaching and research background in geography and environmental and agricultural economics
Mary is studying Countryside Management and helps out on the farm
James helps plant, water and mulch the trees and is our fixer
Our agroforestry
Over the last two winters we’ve planted a 3 hectare bank of marginal clay soil exhausted by continuous arable cropping with a mixture of fruit and nut trees and willow windbreaks. The trees are planted in flower rich strips with a herbal ley for silage in between the tree rows. The extreme summer heat last year meant that the trees required regularly hand watering to ensure their survival. We’re learning as we go and continuing to think about guards, mulch and potential future products and collaborations.
Here’s a photo of our agroforestry rows taken last summer:
how to find us
Our farm is situated in the hamlet of Halstead, East Leicestershire. We will provide details of where to meet after you have emailed to register.
agroforestry open weekend 2023
Over the Agroforestry Open Weekend we will be open on Friday and Saturday for 2 hour tours starting at 2pm.
please don’t just turn up
It’s ESSENTIAL you book one of the limited Agroforestry Open Weekend places by emailing your name, number of people, day of tour and where you’re coming from to halsteadhillfarm@gmail.com
As we have livestock strictly NO DOGS please
facilities/refreshments
Nearby Tilton on the Hill has a Village Store selling light snacks and drinks (Friday lunchtime) and the Rose and Crown pub (Saturday lunchtime).
There will be a compost loo from the nearby The Compost Toilet Company funded by UKSPF Harborough Business Grants Go Green
parking/access
Limited parking in a grass paddock
We’d like to link up people coming from the Friday morning session at the Allerton Project and others travelling from nearby/en route locations to enable lift sharing – please indicate if you’re happy for us to share your details when booking.
Tilton Village Hall (half a mile away) has 2 electric car charge points
Oakham Train Station is 8 miles away – if you’d like to bike on rural roads to our farm we can send a route.
disability access
The tour will cover at least a mile of walking on uneven, sloping, potentially muddy ground. Please bring suitable footwear and clothing. Unfortunately unsuitable for people with mobility difficulties (including wheelchair users).
more information?
Please contact us at halsteadhillfarm@gmail.com for more information
We also welcome class visits from schools and colleges to enable outdoor learning about farming, conservation and food production. If you or someone you know are interested please email to arrange a future visit.