TWEEDDALE MP David Mundell could see the wood for the trees this week on a visit to Glenrath Farms.

The Secretary of State for Scotland was given a tour of the farms to find out how tree-planting is being used in reducing stress levels in hens.

He was also briefed on how the Woodland Trust has been providing support and advice on the benefits of tree cover across the farm land.

The minister was taken to Blythbank poultry farm and shown how trees can improve the animals' range and welfare.

He was shown how ranging outside reduces the hens' stress levels and has beneficial factors with happier hens produce better quality eggs.

Helen Chesshire, a senior farming advisor at the Woodland Trust, told the Peeblesshire News: “The visit was a chance to explain to the minister how trees support a more sustainable agricultural sector by contributing to, shade and shelter for livestock, helping to reduce soil erosion and improve water and pollution management.

“We will be working with Glenrath Farms on the next stage by providing advice on their sheep enterprises, showing how tree shelters benefit sheep farms by helping to reduce the loss of lambs due to hypothermia and encourage earlier grass growth.”

Glenrath Farms are among the largest free range egg producers in the world.

They started tree planting around their units in 2004 and purchased Kikrlawhill Farm in 2012 to expand production.

New housing has been built for 64,000 hens and woodland areas have been created which will provide the opportunity to study behaviour using different planting designs.

And tree planting began in March 2014 to provide both shelter and screening as well as to address ammonia emissions and run off.

Karen Campbell, operations director at Glenrath Farms, told us: “This visit was a fantastic opportunity to meet our local MP David Mundell and discuss issues relating to the benefits of trees and woodlands in agriculture and the wider environment.

“We were delighted to be able to show him what we do as it would have been harder to get our message across in a letter.

"We hope it gave him an insight into the challenges we face on a daily basis.”

Mr Mundell admitted the joint work of the Woodland Trust and Glenrath is a success story which should be repeated.

He said: "This was a very valuable visit to Glenrath Farms as it provided a fantastic insight into the work that is going on at the farm.

"Glenrath Farms are a major success story and the work being done to protect animal welfare is a major step in the right direction which is encouraged by the Woodland Trust.

"I had a great time finding out about how hens' stress levels can be reduced in order to produce better eggs and I hope to be able to see the work on Glenrath Farms again soon."