As sustainability, biodiversity, and climate resilience become top priorities, innovative land management approaches like agroforestry are gaining attention — not just in farming, but across the sports turf, landscaping, and amenity sectors.

The practice of integrating trees and vegetation into managed landscapes offers both environmental and commercial value, helping professionals build resilience, reduce maintenance costs, and enhance the spaces that communities, athletes, and visitors rely on.

Extreme weather events - from droughts and heatwaves to flooding - are reshaping how grounds managers, local authorities, and landscapers think about planting and soil management. Integrating trees and perennial planting into sports turf and amenity settings provides clear advantages:

• Improved soil structure and health, reducing compaction and erosion
• Natural shading and shelter, protecting turf and reducing irrigation needs
• Enhanced biodiversity, encouraging pollinators and natural pest control
• Better water management, with root systems that aid drainage and water retention

These benefits lead to more resilient, lower-maintenance, and sustainable outdoor environments - an outcome every professional in the grounds care industry strives for.

In agriculture, agroforestry has helped farmers boost productivity while improving soil health and biodiversity. The same principles can be applied across sports turf and amenity landscapes:

• Shelter belts and windbreaks can protect pitches, parks, and public spaces from weather extremes.
• Tree-lined areas can enhance aesthetics while improving microclimates and turf performance.
• Mixed planting systems can reduce reliance on synthetic inputs and promote ecological balance.

As Helen Chessire from the Woodland Trust notes, “We’ve moved past exploring why integrating trees is important — now it’s about how to make it happen at scale.” The same proactive approach is now being adopted by grounds managers and landscape professionals across the UK.

If the themes of resilience, diversification, and sustainability resonate with you, then the Farm Business Innovation Show (5–6 November, NEC Birmingham) is your next essential event.

The show brings together over 250 exhibitors and 45+ expert-led seminars exploring new revenue streams, land diversification, and environmental management - including practical insights into agroforestry and natural capital.

You’ll hear from farmers, landowners, and innovators who are already turning these ideas into commercial success stories - insights that can inspire grounds professionals to think differently about land use, sustainability, and new opportunities for growth.

🎟️ Entry is free, so don’t miss the chance to connect the dots between sustainable land management and business innovation.

Join us at the Farm Business Innovation Show and discover how ideas rooted in nature can drive the next stage of growth for your land, business, or organisation.