A new digital tool has been launched to help farmers integrate trees into their land.

The free 'Agroforestry Designer Toolkit' from cloud-based mapping software company, Land App, is aimed at farmers, estate managers, and land agents across the UK.

Launched during National Tree Week, the toolkit aims to change the way agroforestry is planned and implemented across the UK.

Agroforestry is the intentional integration of trees into farms, with potential benefits for farmers, livestock, and nature.

Agroforestry in action (Image: The Tree Council) It is hoped that the toolkit will help combat climate change by making agroforestry an integral part of wider landscape management.

The toolkit was developed with the help of Shropshire Council and Edd Colbert from Agroforestry Design.

It is funded by Trees Outside Woodland, a partnership project of Defra, The Tree Council, Natural England, and Shropshire Council.

Support also comes from the Forestry Commission, Nature-Friendly Farming Network, The Tree Council, and the Woodland Trust.

The toolkit is available to all as part of the free tier of Land App.

It generates bespoke agroforestry initial designs for each farm in 'just 30 seconds', after a short series of questions are answered.

The designs can be tailored to meet specific criteria, such as adjusting stem planting density or consulting with an agroforestry advisor.

Dan Geerah, director of growth at Land App, said: "Agroforestry offers vital benefits for farms, from boosting productivity and protecting livestock and crops, to enhancing biodiversity and combating climate change.

"However, it remains a niche practice, and many find it daunting to start.

"That's why we've developed an easy-to-use, time-efficient toolkit that generates automated agroforestry initial designs, helping farmers, estate managers, and land agents to quickly see how they could integrate agroforestry into their land.

"This tool is the perfect springboard towards making agroforestry more accessible, benefiting both the land and the environment."

James Robinson, farmer and chair of the Nature-Friendly Farming Network, said: "To secure the future of our farms in terms of climate resilience, we must act now, and I believe Land App’s Agroforestry Designer Toolkit is the ideal starting point."

To start using the toolkit, sign up on www.thelandapp.com.