AGF2: Maintain low density in-field agroforestry on less sensitive land

The following changes have been made to this action for SFI26 (compared with the SFI24 version):

• updated wording to clarify where you cannot do this action and which in-field agroforestry systems are eligible – this only applies to SFI26 agreements, not existing SFI24 agreements
• minor updates to standard wording which appears in all area-based SFI actions

This action’s aim is that there’s an established low density in-field agroforestry system that’s maintained, so there’s a combination of both:

• trees (including shrubs)
• arable or horticultural crops, grassland for forage or areas used for other eligible environmental land management scheme actions or options

The purpose of this is to:

• reduce soil erosion and flooding
• improve water and air quality
• provide shelter for crops and livestock
• contribute to carbon capture and storage

What you must do

You must maintain the low density in-field agroforestry system in a way that can reasonably be expected to achieve this action’s aim. This includes:

• replacing dead trees, where necessary to make sure the density continues to be an average of at least 51 trees per ha across the area you enter into this action in each land parcel
• protecting the trees from grazing livestock and pests, such as deer and rabbits, to prevent serious damage
• managing weeds around the base of establishing trees
• pruning and shaping the trees once they are established

When to do it

You must do this action from its start date, throughout each year of its 3-year duration.

Evidence to keep

You must keep evidence to show what you’ve done to complete this action, such as:

• field operations at a land parcel level and associated invoices
• photographs and other documentation

If it’s not clear that you’ve done this action in a way that could reasonably be expected to achieve its aim, we may ask for this evidence. You must supply the evidence if we ask for it.