Whaddon Grove Farm: Planting Trees for Productive Farming

Alongside its direct-to-consumer organic lamb and beef enterprise, Whaddon Grove Farm sells breeding livestock and uses its hardy native breeds to deliver conservation grazing on land that includes sites of archaeological importance. The enterprise is built around Devon Ruby Red cattle and Shetland sheep, two hardy native breeds selected for their ability to thrive on forage-based diets with minimal external inputs. 

Guided by the principle of ‘putting more back into the land than we take from it’ alongside its successful business the farm boasts an abundant mixed landscape of herbal leys, hedgerows, woodlands and scattered trees that support the local wildlife. From diverse bird populations to the visiting beavers, the farm is a thriving ecosystem where nature and food production support one another.  

The Allans have added thousands of trees to expand the farm’s woody habitat and their hedgerows, orchards, riparian (riverside) planting and scattered in-field trees now form an integral part of the working landscape that helps regulate water, protect soils and improve grazing conditions throughout the year. 

Livestock welfare is enhanced by multiple shade and shelter options, as well as providing access to diverse and nutritious browse to supplement their diet – especially valuable when grass growth is stunted by hot or wet weather.   

The tree root systems improve water infiltration and soil structure, supporting grass growth, extending the grazing season and reducing the adverse impacts of our increasingly drought and downpour-prone weather. 

The farm’s in-field trees are planted at low-density (about 30 per hectare) which allows sufficient light for diverse herbal leys to flourish and benefit from improved soil health and water retention which in turn helps extend the grazing season. Combined with the natural fertility provided by clover-rich pastures, these well-planned trees help reduce dependence on purchased feed, fertiliser and infrastructure. 

The Allans also use trees to create wood chip which they use for bedding for their animals and soil improvement and the apples from their orchards  are used to diversify their product offering to include apple juice and, in keeping with local heritage, a particularly punchy cider. 

The same features that support production also deliver benefits for wildlife. Hedgerows, meadows and woodland edges provide habitat and wildlife corridors for birds, pollinators and other species, while permanent pasture and tree roots help build healthy soils and store carbon.

Riparian tree planting slows water movement off the land, reduces erosion and improves water quality, contributing to the water holding capacity of the land, supporting grass growth, and strengthening the farm’s resilience to a changing climate. 

Whaddon Grove Farm demonstrates how trees and woody habitats can become productive assets for a thriving farm business. Key lessons include: 

• Trees provide natural shelter and shade, improving livestock welfare, reducing weather-related stress and providing animals with direct access to extended season forage 

• Trees can improve grassland productivity and extend grazing seasons by increasing water infiltration, enhancing soil structure and boosting resilience to drought and extreme weather. 

• Woodchip for bedding and soil improvement, and tree fodder that supplements livestock diets can reduce farm input costs 

• Trees support biodiversity without compromising production, creating diverse habitats and wildlife corridors…  

Whaddon Grove demonstrates how traditional mixed farming landscapes can function as highly productive agroecological systems, proving that profitable food production, animal welfare and ecological restoration can be achieved together.