SEVEN farms in the heart of Devon have been chosen to take part in a long-term environmental project to measure the impact of mixing grazed grassland with specially selected trees in a system known as silvopasture.

This critical project will look at silvopasture’s positive impact on carbon capture, biodiversity, water quality, flood reduction, soil health, and animal behaviour and health, alongside any unknown benefits on the environment and productivity.

This collaborative project includes The Woodland Trust, which is financing the supply of the trees, Rothamsted Research, the Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group, Innovative Farmers, the Organic Research Centre, the Soil Association, and the farmers themselves.?Elston Farm is one of the seven farms taking part in the Silvopasture project.

Based on the outskirts of Copplestone, Elston Farm is the home of The Meat Box Company (www.themeatboxcompany.co.uk ) and the catering butcher, M C Kelly.

This exciting project coincides with Elston Farm’s adaption into regenerative farming practices and a team of amazing local volunteers is already working with farmer Andy Gray to plant 10.5ha (26 acres) of land with 6,745 trees.

Andy explained: "As public concerns about climate change and the loss of biodiversity increase, projects such as this silvopasture scheme should have a positive and visible impact on the local environment through the increased diversity and numbers of bird, animal, insect and plant life."