Woodland Trust’s MOREwoods scheme: “Farming is as much about stewardship as it is productivity”

Nestled in the rolling chalk hills of Dorset, Hartcliff Farm has been in the Burt family for more than 50 years. Today, it’s managed by Tim Burt, whose approach to farming is rooted as much in long-term stewardship as it is in productivity. “It’s where I’ve always lived,” he says. “I’ve travelled all over the world for work, but this valley – this patch of land – is home.”

The 32ha farm is predominantly laid to grass, producing hay, haylage and silage for sale. It’s a classic example of low-impact, pasture-based agriculture: no pesticides, no artificial fertilisers, just permanent pasture rich in native grasses, clover, and wildflowers. “I can’t call it organic,”
Tim jokes, “but it’s all natural. And that’s important to us.”

In March 2023, Tim and a group of friends and family came together to plant 600 trees across a half-hectare corner of one of his fields, part of a new woodland created through the Woodland Trust’s MOREwoods scheme.

The motivation wasn’t financial: “We just love trees,” Tim explains. “We already had some older woodland on the farm, and we’ve always valued it – not just for the fuel it gives us, but for the wildlife it supports and for the overall feel of the place.”

The decision to plant more trees came after a series of storms over recent years damaged existing woodland, leaving gaps that would take time to recover. “We’ve seen some of the older trees come down, especially oak and ash, andyou start to think about what’s coming next. We wanted to put something in the ground that will still be here in 200 years.”

Choosing to plant

The land Tim chose – a gently sloping corner plot bounded by existing hedgerows – wasn’t especially productive for haymaking. “It was the most obvious place to go for. It wasn’t really used for anything else, and was already a bit enclosed. Plus, it’s got varied soil, so it’s good for a mix of species,” Tim shares.

The decision to go with the Woodland Trust’s MOREwoods scheme came after a bit of online searching. “I can’t even remember exactly where I first saw it – it might have been a government site or on social media. But once I looked into it, it just seemed like the most straightforward, well thought-out scheme.

“Everything was clear: what was covered, what kind of support was offered. Some of the other schemes we looked at were a bit vague or more expensive. We also knew we could trust the Woodland Trust. MOREwoods just made sense.”

Through the scheme, landowners planting at least 0.5ha in total of native woodland can receive expert guidance, subsidised trees and planting materials, and follow-up support. For Tim, that made all the difference.

“We had one of the Trust’s outreach advisors come out to visit, and he clearly knew his stuff. He looked at the site, the soil, the surrounding trees and hedgerows, and gave us suggestions on what species would work best. It felt very collaborative – he wasn’t just there to tick boxes.”

The final species mix that Tim settled on was tailored for longevity and resilience; long-lived native trees suited to the hillside and the prevailing winds, species that would stand the test of time and support local biodiversity. “The shortest-lived species in there will last 200 years,” Tim says.

“That’s the kind of scale we’re thinking on.”

Planting day

Once the plan was in place and the trees and materials were delivered, Tim organised a weekend of planting with a group of around 10 friends and family. “We made a bit of a weekend of it. We had a barbeque in the field, gave everyone their batch of trees, and off they
went. There was a lovely sense of community”

The actual planting, while physically demanding, went smoothly – thanks in part to Tim’s preparation. “I’d already dug the holes and done some soil conditioning, which made things easier. The ground is a bit mixed up there, so we wanted to give the trees the best possible start.”

The trees, guards, and stakes arrived in good time and condition, and Tim estimates that even with the odd snapped stake or failed sapling, the majority have taken well. “We’ve had maybe a 10% failure rate, which isn’t bad. We’ve been replacing the gaps with saplings we’ve grown ourselves – sycamore, ash, whatever native species we’ve got.”

From planting to aftercare

Like any young woodland, the trees at Hartcliff Farm have faced challenges. The biggest, according to Tim, are wind and deer. “We’ve got about 80 sika deer living in the neighbouring fields, and they’re mad. They will strip a tree overnight. We’ve also had storms snap a few stakes, so there’s been a bit of ongoing maintenance.”

That said, the aftercare hasn’t been overwhelming. “You’re not out there every day. But it does give you a reason to keep going back, checking in, feeling connected to what you planted. I think that’s part of the joy of it.”

There have been unexpected benefits too. “We’ve got an old woodland that provides all the heat and hot water for the farmhouse, just from storm-damaged wood and pruning. We don’t cut down trees – but we manage what’s there. Having more woodland just adds to that cycle. In the very long-term this new woodland may eventually support that too.”

The ecological impact

For Tim, the primary motivation was always ecological. “It wasn’t a business decision. But any farmer would be foolish to think these things don’t have an impact on the business. More wildlife, more diversity – that’s good for everything.”

Hartcliff Farm is already a haven for birds: swifts and swallows over the hay fields in summer, ground-nesting birds, woodpeckers, buzzards, kites, and a resident family of tawny owls. “The bird life here is incredible,” Tim says. “That tells you that the insect life is thriving too. You don’t always see the pollinators, but the birds are the proof.”

Adding new woodland, in his view, only strengthens that web. “Trees bring shelter, they improve soil, they help with water management. They seed themselves, and that feeds back
into the existing hedgerows and woods. It’s all connected.”

Reflections and future plans

Looking back, Tim is overwhelmingly positive about the experience – though he’s candid about a bump in the road he encountered. “There was a frustrating delay in the middle, where the application seemed to get stuck between the Woodland Trust and the Forestry Commission. However, once someone at the Trust picked it up and took ownership of the process, it moved fast.”

Despite that, he’d recommend the scheme without hesitation – and is already planning to apply again. “We’re looking at two or three other areas around the farm where we could plant. It doesn’t have to be one big block, which is helpful. Something that’s going to help is the ability to combine smaller patches of land to meet the size requirement. That really opens up a lot more options.”

The main constraint is land availability – but Tim is committed to doing more where possible. The MOREhedges scheme doesn’t quite fit the farm, as nearly every field is already hedged, but the appetite for woodland is clearly there.

When asked what he hopes to see in five or 10 years, his answer is simple: “I want the trees
to be growing. I want them not to be eaten by deer. That’s it, really. Just to go out there and see that something we planted is thriving – that’s a good feeling.”

Looking forward

In an agricultural sector facing enormous uncertainty, Tim sees schemes like MOREwoods  becoming increasingly important – if not necessarily for income, then for resilience, biodiversity, and legacy. “It’s not a financial exercise. It’s about long-term thinking. This is the first additive step we’ve taken for ecology on the farm – and it definitely won’t be the last.”

At a time when conversations around the future of farming often focus on volatility and policy shifts, Tim’s approach is grounded and hopeful. “Farming isn’t just about profit margins,” he says. “It’s about landscape, stewardship, continuity. And sometimes, it’s about planting something you’ll never see fully grown – because you know someone else will.”

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