Overview
Trees have an increasingly important role to play in meeting environmental goals, and farms are a key place where this can happen. This research explores how farmers in England think about growing trees, and how their goals, experiences and values influence the choices they make.
The study draws on 49 interviews and two focus groups with farmers, using insights from social science to understand four types of values that shape decision-making: instrumental (practical and economic), relational (connections to people, places and traditions), expressive (identity, pride and personal fulfilment) and intrinsic (a deeper appreciation of nature and the farming way of life). Looking at tree planting through these lenses helps us see where trees fit comfortably within farming values – and where tensions remain.
For most farmers, growing trees isn’t a central part of the job. But it also isn’t at odds with how they see their role, especially as farming policy increasingly focuses on providing public goods like biodiversity and carbon storage. While financial considerations remain critical, farmers also place real weight on how trees affect the look and feel of the landscape, how they connect to family or local history and the satisfaction of contributing to a healthy environment.
These findings highlight the need for policies and support schemes that speak to the full range of values farmers hold. The four-value framework offers a useful way for policymakers and practitioners to understand why trees matter to farmers, and to design guidance, incentives and communication that better align with their priorities. This approach can help make tree planting a more natural and meaningful part of the farmed landscape.