ORFC in the Field 2021
8 – 9 September 2021
Optional farm visits on the 10th
We are delighted to announce our first ORFC in the Field event at Wakelyns, one of the longest established and most diverse agroforestry sites in the UK.
Wakelyns site map
Ann and Martin Wolfe bought the farm at Wakelyns in Suffolk in 1992 and transformed it from a monocultural wheat field into an oasis of biodiversity for wildlife, crops and trees. Many of you will have witnessed and perhaps even helped in the research and development of Wakelyns agroforestry, with its silvoarable systems involving alleys of willow, hazel and fruit trees mixed with an organic arable and vegetable crop rotation. It’s a “three-dimensional” system that European research has shown can increase farm profitability by 10 – 50% and biodiversity by 40 – 50%.
Sadly, Martin passed away two years ago, but his and Ann’s legacy lives on in the work and research being done by the team at Wakelyns and those who were lucky enough to know and learn from them. The intention of two-day residential event – the first of its kind – is to share the knowledge with a wider group. During your time at the farm, you will learn from permaculture and biodynamic expert, Marina O’Connell, heritage grains pioneer, John Letts and Homedod’s founder, Josiah Meldrum. You will also learn about the YQ and Q population wheats. See then growing in the field, milled and baked in the on farm bakery kitchen by resident bakers and cooks, Henrietta Inman and Maisie Dyvig, who will also talk more about their experience of being part of a local small food chain.
Come and find out about agroforestry, why it is so critical to the future of farming and how you can implement its key principles on your land. Learn more about heritage grains and populations; what they are; why they matter and what it takes to create new populations; and find out more about growing and marketing pulses in the UK. There will also be the option to visit neighbouring farms in East Anglia.
Book Tickets
