It's time to ditch peat, say ministers

The Government has launched a campaign urging gardeners to do their bit to fight climate change – by ditching peat-based composts.
Ministers at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), say two thirds of garden owners are still unaware of environmental damage caused by peat extraction for compost and growing bags.
Some garden experts, however, insist that peat is a renewable resource and remains essential to raising seeds and cuttings successfully (see panel).
DEFRA, however, claims that just eight per cent of gardeners know that peat extraction allegedly contributes to climate change, while 12 per cent know of the harm extraction is said to cause to wildlife.
Secretary of state for the Environment, Hilary Benn, said: “Most people are unaware that peat has such a significant environmental impact, not just on the depletion of a natural resource that takes hundreds and thousands of years to form and the release of CO2 emissions into the atmosphere, but also in damaging valuable habitats for animals, plants and insects.
“With high-quality alternative composts on the market these days, there is no reason for gardeners not to go peat-free and still enjoy a beautiful garden,” Hilary added.
Carbon
The Government believes that over half a million tonnes of carbon dioxide is emitted each year by peat extraction from UK sites for horticultural use – and that excludes 50 per cent of the UK’s peat which is imported. Ministers say that amateur gardeners account for around 70 per cent of peat used.
DEFRA has recruited TV gardener Diarmuid Gavin to spearhead its anti-peat campaign. In 2006, Diarmuid appeared on TV advertisements for Westland, which makes peat-based and peat-free compost.
Diarmuid said peat-free alternatives were “just as good as peat-based compost”. He added: “Using peat-free products in the home and garden is one of the simplest yet most effective ways that people can make a positive environmental impact and reduce their carbon footprint.”