Getting Closer to a Peat Free Future

Getting closer to a peat-free future.
Government consultation is the next step to banning peat in gardening by 2024

'English and Welsh governments have set a deadline of 18 March to collect views from the horticultural industry on removing peat from home gardening.

Topics on the agenda, which affect bagged growing media include labelling to communicate the environmental reasons for not buying peat-based products and a point-of-sale charge similar to that on plastic bags.

Through government, NGOS and industry working together - alongside and army of 30 million gardeners - we can play a key role in helping to reverse the climate and biodiversity crisis said Alistair Griffiths, RHS Director of Science and Collections. A collective effort should be made to support home composting as a sustainable alternative, and to provide information on using the right product in the right place. Urgent research and development funding to accelerate the transition to peat free is also needed.

It coincides with a £5 million fund to help fledging peatland restoration projects across England - part of the Government's plans to restore 35,000ha (86,500 acres) of peatland. To view the consultation search Peat Consultation at gov.uk'