The hens spent as much time as they could under trees and hedges

A Devon poultry farmer believes he has cracked the secret of getting his free range hens to lay more and better eggs - by planting trees.

John Widdowson noticed his 20,000 hens spent as much time as they could under the small clumps of trees and hedges on his land.

So he planted 5,000 poplars, one for every four hens, over 20 acres of his Valley View Farm at Stoodleigh, near Tiverton.

Mr Widdowson said the hens were now outside more and egg production had increased.

"Domestic hens are derived from jungle fowls so that tells you what conditions they like," said the 43-year-old farmer, a poultry producer for 12 years.

"We had noticed the hens were not comfortable with the wide open spaces in the fields they roamed.

The hens are definitely healthier now, laying more top quality eggs - proof, I think, that they are happier in their new surroundings John Widdowson, poultry farmer

"They spent lots of time out of the sun under the trees, so we decided to replicate that over a much larger area.

"We have planted 5,000 leafy, fast-growing poplars, and the hens took to the new environment right away.

"They are now outside more and seem more content and egg production has increased."

Mr Widdowson shared his findings, and now 12 other egg producers have followed his environmental lead.

Best environment

"I am passionate about free range production," said Mr Widdowson.

"I wanted to provide the best environment possible for my birds.

"The hens now spend much more time outside, exploring, foraging and dust-bathing under the trees.

"They are definitely healthier, laying more top quality eggs - proof, I think that they are happier in their new surroundings."