The ORC are delighted to be participating in Carbon Calling in Cumbria this year (2-4 August 2024); a northern based conference inspired by Groundswell, with a pasture focus. ORC’s Dr Julia Cooper and Katie Bliss will be running a REFOREST workshop ‘Trees and Livestock: a balancing act’ that will discuss some of the questions/topics that have arisen out of previous North of England Living Lab meet ups as well as inviting more from participants.
Topics will include tree species for different uses (shade, shelter, browse and fodder), planting designs, managing browse and use of existing trees and woodland. Panel members will be invited to address some of these questions and have an interactive dialogue with the audience. ORC’s silvopasture researcher Dr Lindsay Whistance will be on the panel, along with Rick Cooper of Low Skelgill Farm who, with his wife Sonja has planted shelterbelts and wood pasture on their exposed farm near Keswick, and Paul Muto, Woodland and Tree Officer at the North Pennines National Landscape.
The session will be one of the workshops taking place from 2-3.45 on the Saturday afternoon. To make this as practical and useful as possible you are invited to please share any questions or topics of interest that you would like to be discussed. You can email katie.b@organicresearchcentre.com in advance, or bring them along on the day 🌳😊 These topics will also then feed into our ongoing explorations in the Living Lab that ORC’s Janie Caldbeck is leading on.
Please spread the word to anyone you know of who might be interested – this is a great opportunity to explore ways forward together and expand the network of silvopasture enthusiasts in your local area. We look forward to seeing you there!
