Findings and Recommendations

We have produced a ‘Tree Species Guide for UK Agroforestry Systems’ which aims to provide an overview of the physical characteristics, environmental tolerances, silvicultural characteristics, and ecosystem services and disservices, for a selection of 33 species of trees and shrubs that could be planted in UK agroforestry systems. It was produced by the University of Reading and Forest Research in partnership with Defra and the Expanding Agroforestry project stakeholder group.

The guide aims to provide a simple and accessible overview of the key attributes (whether beneficial or detrimental) of tree species in UK agroforestry systems. As such, it is suitable for farmers interested in agroforestry, and other interested parties including farm advisors, foresters, and policymakers.

This guide has been produced following a rapid review of existing literature and databases, together with consultation with our stakeholder group. The guide comes with some important caveats, limitations and assumptions, which are discussed in the introduction. A confidence rating is provided on the state of evidence for species attributes.

It is envisaged that the guide will mainly be used at an early stage in the design process, e.g., to draw up a short-list of tree species.

Following this, it may be advisable for those designing an agroforestry system to seek further specialist advice appropriate to the local context.