Sainsbury’s launches agroforestry initiative in partnership with the Woodland Trust
Sainsbury’s has launched a new agroforestry initiative in collaboration with the Woodland Trust.
The news comes as the two organisations celebrate 20 years of partnership.
Agroforestry is the integration of trees, hedges and shrubs into farming systems which provides benefits such as shade and shelter for animals and crop and improved biodiversity.
The new initiative will see the Woodland Trust work with farmers and growers who supply Sainsbury’s to offer in-person support to create planting plans that fit their farming systems.
Sainsbury’s suppliers in the North West and South West of England who are involved in the initiative will be the first to get tailored advice on how best to integrate trees on their land to build resilient practices that will also help to protect soils, rivers and the climate.
With only an estimated 3.3% of the UK’s farmed area currently practising agroforestry, less than half the European average, the initiative aims to boost agroforestry adoption and help farmers integrate trees effectively while maintaining other essential land services.
Sainsbury’s has raised over £14 million for the Woodland Trust and been involved in a number of other initiatives since the start of the partnership in 2004. These have included funding tree packs for schools and communities to plant in their local areas and supporting Sainsbury’s farmers to plant trees on their land.
In 2023, Sainsbury’s reached a milestone of five million trees planted through the partnership and has committed to planting an additional 1.5 million trees by 2025.
In 2020, Sainsbury’s became the lead sponsor of the Woodland Trust’s ‘Trees for your Farm’ scheme, which provides advice and funding support to help farmers set up agroforestry systems across the UK.
Ruth Cranston, director of corporate responsibility & sustainability at Sainsbury’s, said: “Over the past two decades we’ve worked closely to support the Woodland Trust and we’re incredibly proud of what we’ve been able to achieve since we started work together 20 years ago; together we’ve transformed landscapes in the UK through tree planting, providing so many positive impacts as a result – from habitats for biodiversity, to improved welfare for hens laying our Woodland Eggs.
“This latest partnership initiative aims to provide farmers with expertise to make the most of the tree planting opportunities available to them. It forms part of a wider partnership and collaboration programme with our suppliers as we seek to play a leading role in building a resilient UK food system.”
