Organic Research Centre
@organicrescent.bsky.social
Established in 1980 as a charity, ORC has played a central role in the development organic food & farming research, knowledge exchange & policy. On 1 Sep 25 ORC joined UK agriculture & environmental consultancy @adasgroup.bsky.social a private ltd company.
Article and video from #Groundswell2026 Discussion centred on a practical question if UK nut production expands: how can nuts be harvested efficiently under British conditions? #agroforestry #ADOPTfunding #UKWalnuts #UKHazelnuts https://ow.ly/JrsX50ZI8PH
Developing machinery for nut harvesting - The Organic Research Centre
This session from Groundswell explored the question: How can nuts be harvested efficiently under UK conditions?
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In the #FeedtheSoil project we’re working with farmers across the UK who are using many different methods to process their farm waste. 🪱 Julia Cooper reports from the #vermicomposting trials with Guy Douglas at Southfield farm in Northumberland. https://ow.ly/T33o50ZI8FT
Worms at work: a year of vermicomposting at Southfield Farm - The Organic Research Centre
Julia Cooper updates us on the vermicomposting trials as part of the Feed the Soil project
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Read Phil's blog 👇
Phil Sumption@philsumption.bsky.social · 2d agoI have written a blog for @organicrescent.bsky.social which is the first of a new series reflecting on past ORC work and achievements. This one on a great collaborative & participatory research project led by @gardenorganicuk.bsky.social #organicfarming www.organicresearchcentre.com/news-events/...
Weeds, wheat, worms and walnuts 🌱🪱🌰 Our August E-Bulletin is out! https://mailchi.mp/organicresearchcentre/e-bulletin-august2026
The outcomes of ORC’s project Early indicators to monitor changes in soil health: evidence to update guidance for UK farmers, have been published on the AHDB website. ORC Principal Researcher – Soil Dr Julia Cooper explains in this blog. https://ow.ly/NF4P50ZzLwP #soilhealth #soilhealthindicators
New guidance to make sense of soil health indicators - The Organic Research Centre
The outcomes of ORC's project Early indicators to monitor changes in soil health: evidence to update guidance for UK farmers, have been published on the AHDB website.
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Hedgerow connectivity 🕷️ Feed the Soil 🪱 Save Wakelyns 🌳 Participatory plant breeding. Our July E-Bulletin is out! https://mailchi.mp/organicresearchcentre/e-bulletin-july2026
Harvest has started for Year 2 of the northern trial of diverse wheat cultivars! #LiveSeeding #YorkshireGrainAlliance #Systems4Food #UKGrainLab Farmers, millers, bakers, researchers and breeders together. The first step to build an alternative grain economy.
At the #liveseeding summer school last week Kate McEvoy from Real Seeds talking through a hypothetical scenario with on-farm cultivar evaluation Organic Growers Alliance
Julia Cooper mentoring her group at #LiveSeeding Summer School. 🌱 "This type of problem solving approach is a great way to internalise their learnings from the week. They're challenged to dig deeper into the topic & broaden their learning through self-directed research."
This week Julia Cooper is one of the instructors for #LiveSeeding Summer School in Universitat Politècnica de València ! 🍅 5-day training bringing together farmers, breeders, researchers, advisors and students to explore participatory and innovative approaches to organic plant breeding.
This great looking internship is available - working on the Farmer action for tree resilience project, of which ORC is one of the partners
Centre for Forest Protection@forest-protection.bsky.social · 2mo ago👨🌾 #Internship 3: ‘Farmers and trees’ - working to develop, test and launch a range of resources aimed at helping farmers improve the health and resilience of trees on their land Find out more and apply: www.forestprotection.uk/cfp-internsh... #TreesOnFarms #FarmTrees
Hooves Among the Trees: Rethinking Woodland Grazing. #Groundswell2026 Agroforestry Tent. Panel discussion with ORC's Lindsay Whistance, Howemill & James Ramskir-Gardiner
Comfort, Shade, Water: How Animals Read the Landscape. #Groundswell2026 ORC's Lindsay Whistance & dairy farmer James Robinson looked at what animal behaviour can tell you about your farm. Observing where they rest, graze, lie or shelter can lead to improvements. #organicfarming #agroforestry
We've been doing some more filming with #IndieFarmer. Interviewing Becky Wilson at Farm Carbon Toolkit for the #GreenGrass project film #Groundswell2026 #comingsoon
Profit, Not Payments: Rethinking #Agroforestry Economics. #Groundswell2026 🌳 Let's shift mindsets from “what support is available?” to “how does this system pay for itself?” With Stephen Briggs, James Ackworth and Tim Coates
‘Key that there need to be continued funding for hedges and a maintain a good network of hedgerows for biodiversity and support farmed landscapes’ Lisa Norton @ukceh.bsky.social #Groundswell2026
We kick off #Groundswell2026 #Agroforestry Tent with Improving Habitat Connectivity on your Farm exploring how hedgerows, field margins, trees & other natural features act as wildlife corridors, helping species move between habitats they need to survive. UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (UKCEH)
🌳 Philippa Hall in conversation with Benedikt Bösel from from 'Gut & Bösel' #Groundswell2026 An inspiring story of how agroforestry can work at a larger scale; environmentally, economically, and socially. Thanks 5m Books Stroud Brewery, Ripe Cider, Verdant Brewing Co Sylva Labs
Developing Machinery for Nut Harvesting session with ORC's Rowan Dumper-Pollard. 🌰Could walnuts and hazelnuts be a viable crop option? Solutions are needed for cost-effective harvesting & processing to unlock the potential. #Groundswell2026 Trials funded by #AdoptSupportHub
We're getting lots of interest and chats about compost in the soil medic tent ! Really exiting to see so much enthusiasm! Farmers are bringing their own compost samples to the table #Groundswell2026 #compost
Simeon Day dives into the past to The Forgotten Forest - a time when our countryside was full of trees and they were an integral part of farming, a time before their widespread loss from our landscape. He then explains how we put them back. #Groundswell2026
Michael Kennard and Daniel Iddon kicking off in the Soil Medic tent. Good to hear Daniel Iddon admitting that we just don't know enough about which fungal species do what, so he opts for a broad diversity in his composts. #Groundswell2026 #compost
And as if by magic those chairs have been filled! Nice #agroforestry starter session with Kinna Mosley and Ellen Smith. Packed to standing room only in the agroforestry tent showing how many people are still keen to learn about agroforestry. #WoodlandTrust #ForestryCommission #Groundswell2026
Come and see us at #Groundswell2026 - Julia and Guilia will be in the Soil Medic tent and Philippa, Lindsay and Rowan will be in the Agroforestry tent today. Hope to see you in those empty seats!
Help save Wakelyns! The iconic Wakelyns site is at risk of being sold without your help. Be part of this exciting new chapter and help secure Wakelyns for future generations by buying shares in the Wakelyns Community Benefit Society or donating. https://ow.ly/P6IW50ZiMsA #savewakelyns #agroforestry
Come meet the Feed the Soil project team first-hand at #Groundswell2026! 💩 We will have a compost stall at the Soil Medic Tent, in partnership with the Land Gardeners and we'll be part of the Soil Surgeries 1:00PM - 1:55PM each day. #feedthesoil https://ow.ly/nfCY50Zifor
Get in the mood for #Groundswell2026 with our playlist from The Agroforestry Tent in 2025! #agroforestry #animalhealth #soilhealth #waterresilience #shelterbelts #goldenhoof #treefodder Soil Association Martin Lines https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLaPg1I2w-qr9pbGa-MLJyhiIFnavbIB8l
Organic outperforms other assurance schemes 🌳🌱 ORC at Groundswell and more! Welcome to our June E-Bulletin #organicfarming https://ow.ly/2HV550ZhxSw
Walter Steiner at Montherod farm in Switzerland has gone "all-in" on agroforestry with large silvopastoral and silvoarable areas growing sweet chestnuts and walnuts. A lovely farm with significant bee and hen operations and a very reasonably priced farm shop. #EURAF2026 https://ow.ly/Fk8F50ZgT9I
