46 Hunters Moon, Dartington, Totnes, Devon. TQ9 6JT. U.K
46 Hunters Moon, Dartington, Totnes, Devon. TQ9 6JT. U.K.
Registered Charity Number 1007440
Director: Martin Crawford Bsc
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://www. agroforestry.co.uk
Fax: +44 (0)1803 840776
Date: 30th January 2012
Report on land at Greenham Reach
Author: Martin Crawford BSc. Mr Crawford has worked in organic agriculture and agroforestry for 30 years, and founded the Agroforestry Research Trust 20 years ago. The ART engages in field trials and other research into agroforestry systems, mainly using fruit and nut trees and bushes in combination with agriculture and horticulture; publishing results and giving advice to farmers and landowners. Our demonstration forest garden at Dartington is a low input, high output sustainable system of land use based on trees, shrubs and perennial plants.
Mr Crawford has wide experience of consultancy about land use especially for tree and shrub crops (fruit trees, nuts trees, fruit bushes etc.) With particular reference to this site, he has been consulted about many sites of similar quality (sometimes poorer) which are since being successfully transformed into productive agroforests and orchards.
The land at Greenham Reach In general the land has high potential for growing fruit trees and bushes. The soil in most places is deep and fertile, however there is a legacy of soil compaction from the previous use which will need to be addressed – I advise subsoiling which is a quick and easy technique for dealing with compaction. A typical sign of compaction is scattered areas of rush in fields which should be well drained according to their soil type and slope. Areas of clay also appear to be near the surface in places which may contribute to poor drainage.
The Main field for plot A has excellent potential for all tree and shrub crops.
The steep field in plot C (mainly conservation grassland) is well drained and the section marked for soft fruit should be productive. The outlet from the field drain or spring uphill from this may need directing so that it does not cause problems. Also, at the bottom of the hill near the stream, fruit varieties will need to be later flowering to avoid frost problems.
The level part of the main streamside field in plot C (marked for polytunnels, silvopasture and market garden) is very variable. There is soil compaction here too, but also there appears to be a mixture of soil types with some clays coming very near the surface in places. However there are certainly drier areas which would be suitable for planting fruit trees immediately. Some of the other areas may require drainage works to become productive (around 200m of drainage trench in a herringbone pattern, draining to the stream, would take about 1 day to dig with a mini digger) although further observation is recommended before such works are undertaken. Fruiting varieties for this field need to be chosen with care bearing in mind the steep sided valley blocks out some sun, and that the whole area is a frost pocket.
46 Hunters Moon, Dartington, Totnes, Devon. TQ9 6JT. U.K.
Registered Charity Number 1007440
Director: Martin Crawford Bsc
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://www. agroforestry.co.uk
Fax: +44 (0)1803 840776
The higher, sloping part of the streamside field in plot C (marked Agroforestry area) is well drained and has good potential for growing tree and shrub crops. The slope there suggests that care will be needed in choosing fruit varieties on the lower side which require less sun (ie early ripening and cooking varieties). The slope also suggests that a windbreak along the present wire fence line is unnecessary. However a new low windbreak (2-2.5m high) along the boundary line between plots C and B on the slope is recommended.
The main field for plot B presently has scattered rush in places (due to soil compaction); but also a strip of thick rush alongside the western hedge which likely to be partly due to soil variations. Most of this field is suitable for immediate planting with tree and shrub crops following subsoiling, however the rush strip to the west is very wet and may require drainage operations to make productive.
Plot B also has a strip of the main field which mostly belongs to plot A. This strip has fertile soil and should be very productive, especially after subsoiling, however a low windbreak (2m) is recommended along the boundary line to give wind protection to the salad crops envisaged there.
Summary The Greenham Reach site has very good potential for growing tree and shrub crops (as well as many other crops). The soil is deep and fertile; the soil analysis reveals no shortage of major nutrients, and any deficiencies in minor nutrients can easily be addressed by the addition of organic matter and organic fertilisers. Soil drainage is currently being impeded in some places by compaction caused by previous land uses (in combination varying soil types in places), but can be addressed by subsoiling. In some locations, fruit varieties must be chosen with care because of slopes and/or frost risk.
46 Hunters Moon, Dartington, Totnes, Devon. TQ9 6JT. U.K.
Registered Charity Number 1007440
Director: Martin Crawford Bsc
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://www. agroforestry.co.uk
Fax: +44 (0)1803 840776
Two views of the ART Dartington Forest garden