
Planting trees to maximise functionality, productivity and future prosperity on Kenilworth Farm, Campbell Town
Posted 19 July 2023
Plantation planning Managing trees On-farm benefits Economic benefits and markets Tree Alliance
David Taylor lives on Kenilworth farm located just northwest of Campbell Town with his wife, Jo, and their three young children. Kenilworth has been in the extended Taylor family since 1823. Originally owned and operated by David’s cousin’s family, David’s father bought the farm off their relatives in 1989, with David and his family now owning and operating the 1,400-hectare farm. David then bought the 832-hectare farm next door in December 2019 and plans to expand his current livestock and cropping enterprises including merino wool, lambing, and poppies.
As David’s newly acquired farm is underdeveloped it requires infrastructure for livestock and cropping. David says one of the first steps in prepping the land and achieving a productive and well-designed farm will be to plant trees.
“When mapping out where to plant the trees, I take into account the areas that will need the additional shelter and shade. I also want to be confident we are planting each tree in the right spot, so we have mapped the areas where the native trees haven’t grown so well so that we can replant these areas with the pine trees which will thrive in these soils”, explains David.
Trees protect the main enterprise
As Kenilworth is home to Merino wool sheep, David is wanting to make sure his flocks are protected from wind and bad weather, especially during lambing season.
“Planting trees throughout the farm provides that added protection and shelter for our livestock and crops. Having trees on the farm can make a real difference to the productivity of our crops and the survival rate of our lambs”, says David.
David has been planting various trees on the Kenilworth farm for 25 years and has experienced the many advantages of growing trees on the farm. David noted that the pine trees grew particularly well in their sandy soils.
“When the opportunity to be a part of this project with Private Forests Tasmania came up, I was excited to be involved and strategically plant more pine trees on the property as they’ve grown really well here in the past”, says David.
“It was also a great opportunity to replace the trees that haven’t done so well. The landscape wasn’t heavily timbered, so it gives us a chance to redesign and plant the trees in a way that maximises their full potential as shelterbelts”, says David.

Re-designing farms with trees
Kenilworth has gone through various phases of re-design since 1992 and has been re-fenced twice. David says he has learnt that it is important to always be aware of the layout of the farm and livestock movements when planting trees.
“I’m always conscious of where to plant trees on the farm so that the next generation won’t regret where they have been planted and the trees can actually benefit the design of the farm”, says David.
“I will strategically plant the pine trees around potential future farm development while taking into account the various soil types and areas in need of shelter and wind protection. Planting the pine trees strategically will help to decrease the wind erosion in the soil while simultaneously working as shelterbelts for the sheep.”
David says that he would recommend planting trees to other farm owners, as the advantages that the trees provide are tremendous.
“If there are further opportunities to plant more trees and be involved in more projects like this we definitely will be. Our farm evidently benefits form pines, and we’re excited to strategically plant more”.
Species: Pinus Radiata
Total area planted: 7.5ha
Seed Source: STBA Level 7
Total Seedling Numbers: 7,500
Share this Article
Latest Articles
-
28 April 2025
Dion McKenzie is PFT’s new Forestry Specialist
-
28 April 2025
Jenna Hammond joins PFT as Engagement and Innovation Specialist
-
17 April 2025
Native forestry: A Sustainable future for Tasmanian Farmers
Archives
- ActivAcre hits milestone, calls for more farmers to get on board
- Napier's leading the way in sustainable forestry and carbon-neutral farming
- Sound science needed to assess carbon impacts of timber harvesting
- Newly appointed TFFPN Board of Directors
- Graduate Certificate of Forestry Scholarship
- Forestry Australia Mentoring Program 2025
- Forest Industry Roundtable planning for the long term
- Eagle Management Constraint Period extended
- Successful private native forest management celebrated
- $15 million investment in new ship loader to boost Bell Bay's forestry exports
- Standing with Tasmania's forestry industry: buy local
- TFPA: Tasmanian Freight Equalisation Scheme needs a ground-up review
- AFCA Gala Dinner celebrates industry excellence
- Fire permits now required Statewide
- Forest leaders hone skills in sustainable native regrowth management
- Carbon methods for native forests must be ‘nature positive’
- Call for Expressions of Interest: Member, Private Forests Tasmania Board
- Private Forests Tasmania marks a year of leadership and innovation
- Bill passed to modernise private forestry regulations in Tasmania
- Next generation increasing access to tree seedlings for timber, biodiversity purposes
- Tasmanian forests and the carbon market: Barriers and opportunities
- Spring is the time for fuel reduction burning
- Primed for Growth: A situation analysis of the Tasmanian Forest and Wood Products Sector
- Audit requirements cut for low-risk plantation projects
- Guidance and support for landowners after damaging winds
- Forestry Australia welcomes further definition of active forest management
- Farm & Forest Mapper Tool highlighted at Rural Youth Tasmania's Young Farmer of the Year competition
- Senate Select Committee inquiry into the Tasmanian Freight Equalisation Scheme
- Timberlink announces new wood composite products brand
- Newly developed protocol a vital tool for safeguarding forestry industry
- Red Hot Tips: Fire management for Tassie farmers
- Bioenergy: Fuelling industries with trees
- Harvesting trees: What you need to know
- Shelterbelts: How are they contributing to farm systems?
- Infill plantings and remnant vegetation: Why biodiversity depends on a thriving understory
- Plantation planning: The key to a successful plantation
- Exciting interactive forestry knowledge hub launched
- $450,000 farm forestry grant recipients revealed
- Tasmanian primary producers, environment and industry to benefit from trees on farms
- Why farmers should plant trees now, and manage them for the mass timber buildings of the future
- PFT forester Stephen Clarke can help you capitalise on the extensive benefits of trees
- Private Forests Tasmania welcomes Molly Marshall to our team
- Windbreaks and wildlife benefit better understood
- The effects of windbreaks on airflow, microclimates and crop yields
- Find out the socio-economic impacts of forestry
- The benefits of trees to reduce paddock water loss
- Modelling the costs and benefits of Agroforestry systems
- Market for Plantation Grown Wood: Where we're at and where we're going
- Rob Smith offers his expertise to advance Tasmania and help the planet at the same time
- Trees on farms to support natural capital: An evidence-based review for grazed dairy systems
- Understanding values behind farmer perceptions of trees on farms
- Economic Impact of Forestry in New Zealand - Te uru Rakau May 2020
- Farm-scale sediment sources: Tree harvesting, cattle and roads
- Improving durability to enhance the value of plantation, regrowth and regenerated Eucalyptus
- Biodiversity outcomes from eucalypt plantation expansion into agricultural landscapes of southern Australia
- Understand how trees improve the carbon balance - carbon investing improves your ROI from trees
- 10 per cent multipurpose tree cover for every farm: A low risk, high opportunity first step