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Sainsbury's and Woodland Trust launch agroforestry initiative


Sainsbury’s launches agroforestry initiative as it celebrates 20-year partnership with the Woodland Trust


  • The agroforestry initiative aims to support Sainsbury’s farmers and growers to enable new farming practices and support a positive impact on the environment

  • Since the start of the partnership the retailer has raised over £14 million to support the Woodland Trust to create and protect UK woodland for people, wildlife and nature

  • Celebrating its 20th anniversary in partnership with the Woodland Trust, Sainsbury’s has committed to planting a total of 6.5 million trees by 2025


Sainsbury’s has today announced the launch of a new agroforestry initiative in collaboration with the Woodland Trust as the two organisations celebrate 20 years of partnership.


Agroforestry is the integration of trees, hedges and shrubs into farming systems which provides benefits including shade and shelter for animals and crops, improving biodiversity and soil structure while reducing soil erosion and capturing ammonia from the atmosphere.


The Woodland Trust will work with farmers and growers that supply Sainsbury’s to offer in-person support to create planting plans that fit their farming systems. With only an estimated 3.3% of the UK’s farmed area currently practicing agroforestry, less than half the European average, the project aims to boost agroforestry adoption and help farmers integrate trees effectively while maintaining other essential land services.


The resources that the Woodland Trust is providing will go hand in hand with Sainsbury’s collaboration with Land App and the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology to give farmers the opportunity to map their land. Doing so will help to identify the best areas of land for food production and habitat creation, making sure that farmers have access to all the tools they need to make decisions that are right for their businesses and right for the environment.


Starting in the North West and South West of England, Sainsbury’s suppliers involved in the initiative will get direct access to tailored advice on how best to integrate trees on their land to build resilient practices while simultaneously helping to protect soils, rivers and climate.


Since 2004, Sainsbury's has supported the Trust through its free-range Woodland eggs by contributing 1p for every dozen eggs sold. The Woodland Trust experts provide Sainsbury’s suppliers with essential advice on tree species and design, ensuring that trees cover at least 20 per cent of the hens’ habitat, allowing the hens to roam more freely in the shade and protection of the woods. Other products in the retailer's Woodland range that raise funds for the Trust include free-range chicken and turkey, Best of British apples, as well as bags for life and greeting cards.


Sainsbury’s has raised over £14 million for the Woodland Trust since the start of the partnership and has been funding tree packs for schools and communities to plant in their local areas since 2009. Over 15 million saplings have been planted as a result of this flagship scheme, creating shade and green spaces for local communities where they are needed most.


In July 2023, Sainsbury’s hit a milestone of five million trees planted through the partnership, helping to protect over 2000 acres of woodland across the UK. The retailer has committed to planting an additional 1.5 million trees by 2025 – supporting the Trust to engage with thousands of communities and helping them to reconnect with nature.?


The Woodland Trust has been supporting Sainsbury’s farmers to plant trees on their land since the beginning of the partnership in 2004. And 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.


More recently, Sainsbury’s donated £200,000 to the Woodland Trust towards its ongoing restoration of rare ancient woodland in Northern Ireland’s Mourne Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The retailer’s investment will fund the removal of invasive species at Mourne Park, planting native trees, and creating wildlife habitats in 73 hectares of woodland to ensure long-term protection of the site. Previously closed to the public for 500 years, the reopening and conservation of Mourne Park has improved access to the site and allowed local communities to explore welcoming pathways and trails to connect with the woodlands.


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.”


Dr Darren Moorcroft, Chief Executive of the Woodland Trust, said: "Our 20-year partnership with Sainsbury’s is a remarkable collaboration and an exemplar of how one business is championing sustainability. The impact of two decades growing together is testament to its strong mutual benefits. Thanks to the development and popularity of the woodland range of Sainsbury’s products, a staggering five million native trees have been planted, creating vital habitats for wildlife to thrive and protecting more than 2,000 acres of woodland across the UK.?


“The Woodland Trust has been planting trees for over 50 years and has a vision for a world where woods and trees thrive for people and nature. We’re hugely grateful to Sainsbury’s and its customers for their support; our partnership is a crucial part of our journey, which helps deliver ambitious projects and plant acres of new woodland. And with plans to expand agroforestry support for Sainsbury’s farmers, our innovative and pioneering partnership goes from strength to strength, demonstrating a win-win for sustainable food production and the natural environment.”??


Sainsbury’s shoppers can also support the Woodland Trust by donating Nectar points – a 2,000-point donation would help the Woodland Trust to plant a tree, or 5,000 points would go towards the protection and restoration of existing trees, providing vital spaces for wildlife species to eat and shelter.

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