Supermarket has worked with the Woodland Trust over the last 20 years and is celebrating the milestone
Sainsbury’s is launching a new agroforestry initiative in collaboration with the Woodland Trust to mark 20 years of partnership.
The move sees the Woodland Trust working with farmers and growers that supply Sainsbury’s to offer in-person support to create planting plans that fit their farming systems.
Sainsbury’s said that with only an estimated 3.3 per cent 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.
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 resources that the Woodland Trust is providing will dovetail 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, the retailer said, making sure farmers have access to all the tools they need to make decisions that are right for their businesses and the environment.
Tailored advice
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 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. 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 £14m 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 15m saplings have been planted as a result of this flagship scheme, creating shade and green spaces for local communities.
Ruth Cranston, director of corporate responsibility and 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.
“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.”
