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Social and Cultural Values and Trees on Farms in England 

Home research Social and Cultural Values and Trees on Farms in England 

This research involves working directly with farmers to better understand the barriers to and opportunities for increasing tree cover on agricultural land. Specifically, it aims to explore how and where trees fit with farmers’ social and cultural values. The primary focus is on trees outside of woodland, including agroforestry, hedges, and in-field trees. 

This research began in October 2021 and is scheduled to continue until March 2025.

Research objectives

  • Develop a framework of farmers’ social and cultural values, outlining how these values might influence farmers’ attitudes to trees. 
  • Identify priority contexts (demographic, geographic, farm systems) where an understanding of social and cultural values could impact efforts to expand tree cover on agricultural land. 
  • Consider how policy design and communication with farmers could best support the aim of increasing tree cover by more closely aligning with farmers’ values. 

Findings and Recommendations

Preliminary findings from research in 2021-22 undertaken through evidence review, expert interviews, and discussions with farmers included: 

Key factors influencing farmers’ relationship with trees include: 

  • Farm system; land tenure; age/generation; and previous participation in agri-environmental schemes. 

Seven areas of social and cultural value are likely to impact efforts to expand tree cover on agricultural land: 

  • the centrality of food production,  
  • farm business concerns, 
  • environmental values, 
  • farm health concerns, 
  • farming identity, 
  • social approval, 
  • relationship with the landscape

Latest updates

Work in 2022-23 includes: 

  • Further developing the framework of social and cultural values. 
  • A survey aimed at understanding the relative importance and influence of the different value areas among different groups of farmers. 
  • Focused research with a specific group of farmers exploring the value areas in greater depth. 
  • A parallel stream of work with farmers who have significantly increased the number of trees on their land, exploring their experience of changing their approach to farming. 
Themes
Socio economic research
Research Status
current
Research Groups
Society and environment research group (SERG)
Contacts
Stephen McConnachie
Behavioural Scientist
Stephen 600x600
Funding & partners
  • defraFUNDED BY DEFRA UNDER THE NATURE FOR CLIMATE FUND IN SUPPORT OF THE ENGLAND TREE PLANTING PROGRAMME
  • forestry commissionFORESTRY COMMISSION
  • natural england logoNATURAL ENGLAND

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