Wakelyns Agroforestry: Resilience through diversity

Wakelyns, encircled by conventional arable farming, stands as an oasis of trees teeming with birdsong and insects. Integrating trees for timber, energy, and fruit production into an organic crop rotation, Wakelyns was founded by the late plant pathologist, Professor Martin Wolfe, to implement his theories that agrobiodiversity is key to achieving sustainable and resilient agriculture. Marking 30 years of agroforestry at Wakelyns, this revised edition of ‘Resilience Through Diversity’ celebrates the contributions of Martin and Ann Wolfe, fellow researchers from the Organic Research Centre, and the broader Wakelyns community. Since 2020, their work has been continued and expanded by their son David Wolfe and his wife Amanda.

The original review was written by Jo Smith and Sally Westaway in 2020, with support from the Woodland Trust. This edition, revised by Janie Caldbeck and Will Simonson, was made possible through a partnership with an anonymous donor and Stewardship. It includes new sections on ‘Biodiversity for Agriculture and Conservation’ featuring our latest research at Wakelyns as part of the Agromix project. The recent work on pond restoration and creation at Wakelyns is also discussed. Additionally, we share how, since the deaths of Martin and Ann, David and Toby Wolfe and their families have continued the organic rotation agroforestry while transforming Wakelyns into a hub for farming, food, research, and the environment, emphasising short food chains, enterprise stacking, and community involvement.

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