Did you know that chickens evolved in the jungles of southern Asia? This surprising fact is the basis of our hugely successful partnership of more than two decades with Sainsbury’s. Together we’ve turned eggs into trees – more than five million of them.
Chickens' jungle roots mean they are happier and healthier when allowed to roam under the shelter of trees; and healthier hens lay better eggs.
With this in mind, Sainsbury’s launched Woodland eggs back in 2004, with 1p going to the Woodland Trust for every dozen sold. Ever since, we've been growing together, naturally, and our partnership has done so much to help woodlands, wildlife and communities thrive.
Woodland eggs sold
raised for woods and wildlife
trees planted
Since 2004, over 860 million Woodland-branded products have been sold in Sainsbury’s: from free-range eggs, Woodland chicken and turkey, to bags for life, Best of British apples and a range of greeting cards. When Sainsbury’s customers buy a Woodland product they know they’re making a contribution to support nature-friendly farming, planting trees and protecting UK woodland on farms for more resilient, sustainable food production so that people and nature can thrive.
Sainsbury's is at the forefront of the agroforestry movement, backing the boost that trees deliver for nature and climate while delivering resilience and productivity for farm businesses and growers across their network in three areas of the UK - South West England, East Anglia, and a third to be introduced in 2027.
These key farming landscapes are the focus of the Woodland Trust and Sainsbury's supply chain project for the next four years - where the integration of trees onto farms will deliver the most impact for farmers and for nature.
Sainsbury's farmers and suppliers 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, biodiversity and climate. The advice covers tree species, sourcing and funding options. Read more about the benefits of agroforestry.
Sainsbury's was lead sponsor of our Agroforestry Show in 2023 and 2025, and has supported landowners and farmers across the UK by funding the Woodland Trust's Trees for your Farm scheme from 2020 to 2026/27, with over 150,000 trees planted.
Nature is the backbone of our food system. We depend on biodiversity, healthy soils and water to produce the good food that we really depend on. Working with the Woodland Trust is one of the key partnerships that enables us to build a more sustainable and resilient food system.
Credit: Ben Lee / WTML
Sainsbury's was the lead partner on both our First World War Centenary Woods and Jubilee Woods projects, donating over £4.75 million and £1.5 million respectively. In 2018, it supported the Queen's Commonwealth Canopy project, planting more than 50,000 trees across the UK.
Credit: WTNI image library
We teamed up with Sainsbury’s in 2024, our 20th year of partnership, to protect and restore ancient woodland in the tourist hotspot of the Mourne Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
Sainsbury’s funded £200,000 to help restore 73 hectares at Mourne Park in one of the rarest habitats in Northern Ireland. This will ensure the long-term protection of this irreplaceable resource and secure its ecological integrity.
We want to make sure everybody in the UK has the chance to plant a tree. So we give away hundreds of thousands of trees to schools and communities each year. We’ve delivered over 17 million saplings to schools and communities through our free trees programme, funded with support from Sainsbury’s since 2009 to 2026.
Our partnership of more than two decades with Sainsbury’s is a remarkable collaboration and we're delighted to be expanding our agroforestry ambitions together. We know that integrating trees on farms not only delivers multiple benefits for the farming business, it also supports habitat restoration, increases biodiversity and farm resilience. Championing the planting of trees and protection of woodland habitat on farms for more Sainsbury’s farmers in these key farming landscapes provides a massive opportunity to boost sustainable food production while protecting the natural environment.
Call us on 0330 333 5306 or email partners@woodlandtrust.org.uk to learn more about partnering with the Woodland Trust.
