Researcher/grower | Perennial Green Manures project, Ecodyfi
innovating systems in horticulture and agriculture to mitigate climate change and increase biodiversity.
I have been researching a system of providing nitrogen to crops by use of trees and shrubs grown in 'bioservice areas'. The bioservice areas increase farm resilience and productivity by providing ecosystem services such as shelter and habitat, but they also produce nitrogen-rich foliage which is applied to cropland. We hope this could have benefits over fertiliser nitrogen and traditional organic methods in reducing greenhouse gases, increasing carbon sequestration and biodiversity and helping farmers benefit economically from tree planting. I have experimented with this technique for my PhD at Bangor University, and subsequently in trials with horticulturalists in mid Wales. Prior to working on Perennial Green Manures i worked as a horticulturalist, specialising in fruit growing and perennial systems, and teaching and writing on sustainable horticulture, at the Centre for Alternative Technology and Garden Organic.
