We are delighted to be taking part in Agroforestry Open Weekend 2024

Our farm

Kilowna Farm is on the east coast of Co Down (2 miles from the most easterly point on the island of Ireland). The farm is a small, family-run mixed farm-sheep, grass and cereal.

Our agroforestry

• The farm (12.5 ha) has 1 ha of woodland and 0.9 ha of silvopasture (planted in 1995 -mainly ash in an exposed coastal location) which I am restoring   
• The farm has much better habitat quality than average for the area and better than the national average
• The trees make a significant contribution to the carbon balance of the farm- woodland, hedges and silvopasture (grazed ) account for 18% of the farm area and 22 % and  78% of the soil and above ground biomass respectively.
• Planting more silvopasture and hedges offers the best chance to sequester more carbon.
• The farm is not financially viable without subsidy (half the farm income last year),  so keeping subsidy is vital
• In 2023 and 2024 we established c 500m of riparian buffer -some alongside the silvopasture
• As silvopasture is treated as agricultural land in NI, For the future, having more silvopasture would  improve soil health and increase the  farm carbon stock without loss of subsidy

how to find us

You will find us at 108 Whitechurch Road, Ballywalter, Co Down. Northern Ireland   BT22 2JY

agroforestry open weekend 2024

Over Agroforestry Open Weekend 2023 we will be open Friday afternoon (2-5) Saturday afternoon (after 1pm ) and all Sunday

please don’t just turn up

People should book please-email jim.mcadam100@outlook.com  07796614870 So that I can ensure everyone gets a guided tour.

facilities/refreshments

Tea etc for those travelling

parking/access

Plenty of room to park in a hard stone yard

dogs

No dogs please, there are sheep and ponies on the site.

disability access

It is all fairly flat over a grassy field but the track (300yds) is a bit rough. If it helps anyone I can take people around the site in an old LandRover-at their own risk.

more information?

jim.mcadam100@outlook.com  07796614870

More information is available here