Click here to see how to run the Agroforestry Designer data downloads
Contents
Key Inputs and Their Effects
Design Engine Process
Key Inputs and Their Effects
Design Engine Process
Key Inputs and Their Effects
Design Engine Process
Introduction
The Agroforestry Designer Suite offers three distinct design options:
Linear Design
In-field Grid/Dispersed
Traditional Orchard
This document explains how your inputs influence the generated designs for each option.
The Agroforestry Designer Suite uses your inputs to create tailored designs that balance your specific needs with best practices in agroforestry. Remember that these generated designs are starting points, and you can further customise them to perfectly suit your land and objectives.
The Agroforestry Designer Suite for England is a perfect companion to our EWCO Checker Tool, created in partnership with the Forestry Commission. If you would like to explore alternative options to agroforestry, you can use the EWCO Checker tool to identify areas of your land which may be suitable for planting woodland and securing England Woodland Creation Offer grant payments. The outputs of the EWCO Checker Tool can also be passed through the Agroforestry Designer to enable you to see both options within the same land parcel.
General Considerations
Before diving into the specifics of each design type, it's important to note some general considerations that apply to all designs:
Geographic Limitation: The design engine currently works only for land in England.
Geometry Handling: The system attempts to repair invalid geometries. If unsuccessful, you'll receive an email notification.
Land Classification: Only agricultural land is considered valid for design purposes. Non-agricultural land will be shown as an excluded region.*
Protected Areas: The system automatically excludes SSSIs (Sites of Special Scientific Interest), PHI (Priority Habitat Inventory) areas, and scheduled monuments from the design.*
Tree Types: Instead of suggesting specific tree species, the design engine outputs tree species groups, or tree types, that might be suited to your agroforestry project.** These include:
Tree (generic)
Shelter, Native Conifer
Shelter, Broadleaf
Fruit, Dwarfing rootstock
Fruit, semi-vigorous rootstock
Fruit, vigorous rootstock
Nut, Hazel
Nut, Walnut
Timber
Livestock browse, hybrid short rotation coppice (high density)
Livestock browse, native short rotation coppice (low density)
Biomass, hybrid short rotation coppice (high density)
Biomass, native short rotation coppice (low density)
Design Flexibility: After generation, you can easily reassign tree species, move features, delete elements, or edit the design as needed.
*There may be other constraints for tree planting on your land that are not excluded by this tool, please ensure your land is suitable for tree planting before starting an agroforestry project.
**For further guidance on tree species selection, see this guidance from Forest Research, or seek guidance from an agroforestry advisor.
Grant funding options (England only):
Announcement from the Forestry Commission (from 14 August 2024)
Countryside Stewardship Items:
AF1: Plant an agroforestry woodland tree - £5.40/tree
AF2: Plant an agroforestry fruit tree - £17.83/tree
AF3: Supplement: Species diversity bonus - (to support at least 5 species in an agroforestry system): £1.16/tree
PA4: Agroforestry plan - £1,268.08/plan
BE5: Creation of traditional orchards - £471 per hectare (ha).
Sustainable Farm Incentive:
Very low: 30-50 (SFI 24 - AGF1: Maintain very low-density in-field agroforestry on less sensitive land) - £248/year/3 years/renewable at end of the contract.
Low: 51-130 (SFI 24 - AGF2: Maintain low-density in-field agroforestry on less sensitive land) - £385/year/3 years/renewable at end of the contract.
Users looking to implement agroforestry-related SFI options should consider checking the SFI Agroforestry Data Layer for whether their agroforestry plan falls within the low sensitivity region. Options falling outside of these regions are unlikely to be approved.
Input Fields Common to All Designs
Geospatial Boundary: You can choose an existing plan or create a new frame to define the area for your agroforestry design.
Plan Name: A free text field where you name your new agroforestry plan.
SBI Number (Optional): You can provide your Single Business Identifier number if applicable.
1. Agroforestry Designer (Linear Design)
Key Inputs and Their Effects
Width of Largest Machinery (m)
Determines the spacing between and around tree rows.
Ensures sufficient space for machinery navigation.
Used to set the width of the buffer strip along the field perimeter.
Purposes for Agroforestry
Options: Biomass, Fruit, Nut, Shelter, Timber, Livestock browse
Influences tree species selection and row design.
Affects row orientation if orientation is set to automatic.
Tree Row Orientation
Automatic: Determined based on chosen purposes and field topography.
Manual: Allows you to set a specific orientation (0-180 degrees).
Single or Double Tree Rows
Single: One line of trees per row.
Double: Two alternating lines of trees per row, maximising tree density.
Minimum Paddock Area (ha) (Optional)
Ensures sufficient space between tree rows for grazing animals.
Leave blank if not applicable.
Additional Path
Adds a 1m path alongside tree rows for easier management and harvesting.
Design Engine Process
Row Spacing: Determined by the width of the largest machinery to ensure navigability.
Orientation:
If automatic and average field gradient > 5 degrees: Rows loosely follow the slope.
If automatic and gradient ≤ 5 degrees: Optimised based on chosen purposes and to maximise total row length.
Species Selection: Based on chosen purposes. Species alternate across rows.
Canopy Cover: A polygon is defined around each tree row to represent potential canopy spread.
Buffer Strip: Created along the field perimeter, width equal to the largest machinery.
Working Area: Defined as the area not covered by buffer strips or tree rows.
Spacing: Inter- and intra-row spacing determined by the selected species group.
2. Agroforestry Designer (In-field Grid/Dispersed)
Key Inputs and Their Effects
Headland Width (m)
Defines the tree-free area at the field edges.
Recommended to match your widest machinery.
Tree Planting Density (stems/ha)
Range: 30-400 stems/ha
Determines the spacing between individual trees.
Density categories with associated grants:
Very low: 30-50 (SFI 24 - AGF1: Maintain very low density in-field agroforestry on less sensitive land)
Low: 51-130 (SFI 24 - AGF2: Maintain low density in-field agroforestry on less sensitive land)
Design Engine Process
Buffer Strip: Created based on the specified headland width.
Tree Placement: Individual tree points are distributed across the field at the specified density.
Species: All trees are categorised in the broadleaf species group.
3. Agroforestry Designer (Traditional Orchard)
Key Inputs and Their Effects
Headland Width (m)
Defines the tree-free area at the field edges.
Recommended to match your widest machinery.
Tree Planting Density (stems/ha)
Range: 30-100 stems/ha
Eligible for BE5: Creation of traditional orchards
Determines the spacing between individual trees.
Design Engine Process
Buffer Strip: Created based on the specified headland width.
Tree Placement: Individual tree points are distributed across the field at the specified density.
Species: All trees are categorised in fruit and nut species groups.
How to run the Agroforestry Designer data downloads
To use the Agroforestry designer data download you will need to use an existing plan contained within your map or use a frame area.
In the top left of your screen select New, Data Download.
From the list of available Data downloads there are three Agroforestry designer ones,
Make your selection.
On the following screen you will be required to complete the required information in the left hand panel which will vary based on the designer chosen.
Initially select the plan you wish to use or create a frame area, if using an SBI this can also be inputted along with the Plan name.
The inputs required after this will depend on the design type selected and once completed select Download Now.
Your data will be downloaded and you can navigate to My Data or Back to Map.
You will receive an email to confirm your Agroforestry design output has been generated and further information to support you.
Back in your map your plans will now be generated and can be interrogated and edited if needed.
Acknowledgements
Our Agroforestry Design Tools were developed in partnership with Shropshire Council and designed with input from Edd Colbert (Agroforestry Design), funded by Defra's "Trees Outside Woodland" project.
