I’m grateful to Helen Freeman (www.memypigsandi.com) for mentioning my ‘Agroforestry & Silvohorticulture Resource Guide’ in her AgStacker Community Newsletter, a monthly digest of writing on food, farming & the food system. If you haven’t already done so, I’d strongly recommend subscribing.

I have just launched my 'Agroforestry and Silvohorticulture Resource Guide'. This is an initial release, somewhat embryonic, but it will be maintained and developed over time. I hope I can develop it into a useful resource for others. open.substack.com/pub/thewoodl...

A few thoughts from my recent visit to the RISC food forest in Reading, UK. A food forest in a very unusual, perhaps unique, location. open.substack.com/pub/thewoodl...

For Christmas we took a break away from the orchard and our other projects and took some time to reflect on what has been a transformative year. Little did I expect that my thoughts would extend back 939 years… substack.com/@thewoodland...

An Exploration Of The Landscape Below Ground open.substack.com/pub/thewoodl...

Initial thoughts from the Agroforestry Show - part 1 open.substack.com/pub/thewoodl...

Looking forward to our next live event in North Lincolnshire, UK this coming Sunday, 27th July. If anyone is in the area please do come down for chat about food forests, coppicing, dead hedging, and tree-based nature friendly growing systems.

We're looking forward to our first live events with The Woodland Orchard this year. Come to see us (if you're in or near Lincolnshire, UK this summer) at the Riverlight Festival, Sleaford and the Waters Edge Wildlife Day, Barton-upon-Humber.

I never get tired of this walk, even when it's leading to some back breaking work!

From a grass paddock to this, after almost 20 years. There is structure here, but it cradles chaos.

First harvest from our latest, urban permaculture project. Pot grown rhubarb.

My take on the astonishing decision by the Dartington Trust to threaten the future of the Agroforestry Research Trust forest garden. open.substack.com/pub/thewoodl...

Terrible news from Martin at the Agroforestry Research Trust, who's work was absolutely the main inspiration behind the creation of The Woodland Orchard Details on how you may be able to help in the link www.agroforestry.co.uk/save-darting...

The fourth and final part of my current series on Substack was published this week. Next up... A series on the kitchen garden/permaculture zone 1. substack.com/@thewoodland...

Today's office. Overcoming writers block by leaving the laptop behind in favour of a park by a river.

Moving Hazels. Originally planted by a squirrel which spent some time here in the last couple of years, these Hazels are being transferred into the pleached hedge on the edge of the orchard. This 'linear nut orchard' replaced an unproductive conifer hedge and now gives an occasional nut crop.

First frog spawn of 2025 at The Woodland Orchard - 24th Feb. The year has started!

"This is where permaculture happens" Part 3 of my Substack series is now available, in which I argue that there is no such thing as a permaculture technique, but there are permaculture decisions. open.substack.com/pub/thewoodl...

The second article in my new substack series is now published. I'd be very interested to hear your thoughts, and grateful if you could share the post. Many thanks, John. open.substack.com/pub/thewoodl...

If we don’t grasp the foundational concepts, is permaculture at risk of becoming just another gardening trend? In my latest series of articles, I explore why this matters. Link in the comments... #Permaculture #RegenerativeDesign #Ethics #Principles

Delighted to be awarded my Permaculture Design Certificate by the Permaculture Research Institute. Valuable learning even after 20 years learning "on the ground". Next up: A design review for the orchard & fresh designs for two new sites! #permaculture #PDC #regeneration #neverstoplearning

Happy World Soil Day!

This isn't my favourite time of year, as temperatures drop & the orchard moves into monochrome, leafless sleep. Then the light catches the last Hazel & Birch leaves & abstract ice on the pond. It's time to start working on the pleached hedge, the 'linear nut orchard'. And time for thicker socks!

The before & after: 2005 to 2024. The journey continues of course, with a major redesign intended from 2025. Change will be gradual, respectful of the widllife that now depend on it. #permaculture #foodforest #wildlifepond #coppice #woodland #soilhealth #soilregeneration #landscaperegeneration

This is the field that was to become The Woodland Orchard, when I first walked onto the site in 2005. It looked fantastic, but I didn't know then that the soil wasn't in great shape. It started an incredible, near 20 year journey learning about soil health and regeneration. Follow for updates!

Hi folks, and welcome to The Woodland Orchard, a regenerative orchard, food forest, and woodland. #foodforest #permaculture