For more detail, see Lawson et al (2017) and Smith (2019).

The integration of trees at a low density into agricultural land challenges the conventional specialisation of forestry and agricultural policy mechanisms, and this lack of policy support has been one of the main barriers to wider adoption of agroforestry in the UK. Agroforestry is not included in the definition of an agricultural area in Pillar 1 in CAP 2014-2020, and there is some confusion concerning the eligibility for direct payments of land with scattered trees. Permanent crops including orchards and scattered fruit trees, tree nurseries and short rotation coppice are all eligible for direct payments, and hedges protected under Cross Compliance by Good Agricultural and Environmental Condition 7 are also eligible.  

For other tree components (e.g. timber, Christmas trees), European regulations (Commission Delegated Regulation 640/2014, Article 9) state that an agricultural parcel containing scattered trees is eligible as long as agricultural activities can be carried out in a similar way as on parcels without trees in the same area, and the number of trees per hectare does not exceed a maximum density. This maximum density is defined by the Member States and should not exceed 100 trees per ha. This has been interpreted slightly differently across the UK nations. In Wales, groups of trees covering 100m² or greater are first deducted from the eligible area, and the density of any scattered trees in the remaining assessed. Densities greater than 100 trees/ha means that the whole parcel is ineligible; at densities of 100 trees or less, a representative area deduction for tree trunks and stumps is applied. In Northern Ireland, which has had an agroforestry option in its agri-environment scheme since 2007, land managed as agroforestry is eligible in the initial years of tree establishment, provided agricultural activity remains predominant and is not significantly affected by the presence of trees. Grazed woodland is only eligible if the tree density does not exceed 50 trees per hectare and agricultural activities can be carried out on the grazed woodland in a similar way compared to land without trees. However, if there is a single tree, a line of trees or small clump of trees with grazing available underneath right up to the trunk, a deduction is made only if there is an area of bare ground or mulch under the trees and consequently no grazing is available on these areas. In Scotland, there is no mention of tree densities under eligibility rules, and in England, trees are eligible if they are scattered within an agricultural parcel (i.e. each tree is surrounded by agricultural land), and they allow agricultural activity to be carried out in the same way as in parcels without trees in them; tree density limits are not specified.

Within the compulsory Greening component of Pillar 1, agroforestry is included as an option within the Ecological Focus Area measures at the European level, but has only been incorporated into national options in Northern Ireland. Other tree-based landscape features such as hedges and short rotation coppice have been included in national schemes.

While there was an agroforestry measure (Article 44) available within Pillar 2 of CAP 2007-13, in the UK this was only implemented in Northern Ireland, where support was available for the first establishment of agroforestry, based pro rata on tree densities. A revised agroforestry measure (Article 23) has been included within CAP 2014-2020 and implemented within 35 European regions. In the UK, Northern Ireland, Wales and Scotland have incorporated the agroforestry measure within national schemes, but England has not. In Northern Ireland, agroforestry is included as an option in the Environmental Farming Scheme under Measure 10 (delivering benefits of carbon sequestration, biodiversity, soil and water quality), with a focus on silvopastoral schemes, and a target of 52ha planted by 2020. Support rates are 80% of eligible costs for establishment (£1572/ha in Year 1) and 100% of eligible costs for maintenance (£65/ha/yr in Years 1-5), for trees established at a density of 400 trees/ha, with thinning to a final density of 120-150 trees/ha. Costs may be converted to a cost per hectare for trees established at other densities. Agroforestry should not be established on semi-natural habitat, and where fruit trees are planted, these should be combined with forest tree species and forest species should be in majority of more than 50%.

In Scotland, the focus again is on silvopastoral systems, with a target of 300ha by 2020 on permanent pasture only (Class 3.1 to 4.2), used only for grazing sheep with grazing available for 20 years. Species should be productive broadleaf species suitable for the site, trees must be evenly distributed and initial tree densities maintained for 20 years. At a planting density of 200 trees/ha, initial payment rates are £1860/h with annual maintenance payments of £48/ha/year for 5 years. In Wales, the target is for 147ha and the specification set out within Glastir Woodland Creation is 80 trees/ha on permanent grassland grazed at typical stocking rates, with payments of £1600/ha for establishment and £30/ha/yr annual maintenance in Years 2-6.

Although England has not implemented the agroforestry measure, the Countryside Stewardship includes several options that may provide support to more traditional forms of agroforestry. Options include protection of in-field trees in arable and intensive grasslands, hedgerow management, creation and management of traditional orchards, wood pasture and parkland plus support for capital items including hedgerow laying, coppicing and laying up, planting new hedges, fruit tree planting, tree surgery and tree protection.