MPs push government to ban sale of peat compost to gardeners (2024)

MPs and celebrities have urged ministers to bring forward a ban on the sale of peat compost to gardeners.

Former environment secretary Theresa Villiers called for the substance to be outlawed by 2024 to restore peatlands, which are the UK's largest carbon sink.

She proposed a Private Members' Bill yesterday which she said was intended to fulfil a promise made by the Government in 2022.

Her proposals won the backing of environmental campaigners and celebrities worried about the impact peat extraction has on peatlands.

Introducing the Horticultural Peat (Prohibition of Sale) Bill yesterday, Ms Villiers claimed the UK's peatlands contained 'more carbon than the forests of the UK, France and Germany combined'.

MPs and celebrities have urged ministers to bring forward a ban on the sale of peat compost to gardeners (stock image)

Former environment secretary Theresa Villiers called for the substance to be outlawed by 2024 to restore peatlands, which are the UK's largest carbon sink

However, she said less than 20 per cent of British peatlands are in a near-natural state, with over-grazing and agricultural drainage among the contributing reasons.

Ms Villiers said her Bill was focused on preventing peat extraction for horticulture, telling MPs: 'Extraction degrades the state of the wider landscape, damaging wildlife habitats and reducing peat's capacity to prevent flooding and field water.

'And of course extraction means that stored carbon is released, contributing to climate change.

'This Bill would implement the 2022 commitment made by this Government to prohibit the use of peat products in amateur gardening in England by the end of this year.' The Bill is set to be considered again by MPs on April 26, but is unlikely to become law without the support of the Government.

As well as carbon capture and storage, peatlands provide habitat to some of the UK's most threatened and rare wildlife.

Ms Villiers proposals won the backing of environmental campaigners and celebrities worried about the impact peat extraction has on peatlands (stock image)

They also filter water and prevent flooding downstream, but draining, burning, and harvesting for compost, means only 13 per cent are in a near-perfect state.

The Government pledged in 2022 that the sale of peat for private gardens and allotments would be banned by the end of this Parliament in 2024, but sales remain legal.

Conservationists say this contributes to the destruction of peatland habitats in the UK and across Europe.

A public consultation, which received 5,000 responses, found 95 per cent of people supported the ban.

Ms Villiers' proposal was attacked by her colleague Sir Christopher Chope, who said attempts to ban the sale of peat-based compost to gardeners are an 'exercise in gesture politics'.

The Christchurch MP also claimed he was making a 'plea on behalf of amateur and professional horticulturalists', as peat substitutes were often not as effective in growing plants.

He said: 'I think it is important to put on record that when the Bill is brought forward it will not go unopposed, because I think that much of the content of this Bill which she has described seems to be disproportionate, not based on science or fact, and another exercise in gesture politics.' Sir Christopher likened the Bill to the smoking ban, saying it was 'another day when the banners seem to want to get out there and destroy legitimate activities that other people are engaged in'.

Celebrities, however, have backed the ban, with actress Alison Steadman, an ambassador for The Wildlife Trusts, saying: 'The Government is running out of time to fulfil its promise to ban the sale of peat to gardeners by the end of this parliament.

Ms Villiers' proposal was attacked by her colleague Sir Christopher Chope (pictured), who said attempts to ban the sale of peat-based compost to gardeners are an 'exercise in gesture politics'

'Peat belongs in bogs not bags, and it's high time that commitments to ensure a ban are honoured.

'What's left of precious peatlands needs protecting and restoring, not despoiling.' The Royal Horticultural Society also backed the Bill, with Professor Alistair Griffiths of the gardening charity saying many gardeners had already adopted peat-free practices.

A Defra spokesman said: 'We are committed to ending the use of horticultural peat. We agree there is no need to use peat in gardens and there are now many peat-free alternatives on the market.

'Since we set out our proposals to ban the sale of peat in 2022 we have seen a 59 per cent reduction in peat use across the country, and have worked extensively with industry to move towards a full transition to peat-free working.'

The Government will set out its position on the Bill when it reaches a second reading, officials said.

MPs push government to ban sale of peat compost to gardeners (2024)

FAQs

Why is peat being removed from compost? ›

Its extraction for human use dries the peat causing the area to degrade and also increases the risk of wildfires. These two factors allow for increasing amounts of carbon dioxide to be released into the atmosphere, making them one of the biggest sources of greenhouse gases.

Is it okay to use peat compost? ›

Peat compost has been used by gardeners and growers for decades. However this enthusiasm to feed our own gardens is actually damaging the environment.

Is compost containing peat banned? ›

With government legislation due to come into place banning peat use by the end of 2024 for amateur gardeners and by December 2026 for professional growers, retailers and consumers can no longer deny nor delay the inevitable transition to a peat-free future.

Is peat banned in the UK in 2024? ›

On the 27th of August 2022, the UK Government announced that the sale of horticultural peat to gardeners in England and Wales will be banned by 2024 (GOV.UK, 2022). So, what is peat?

What is the problem with peat free compost? ›

Peat-free composts, especially those containing composted bark, often hold water for longer, so may need watering less frequently. They also tend to look dry on the surface, making it easy to overwater.

Should I buy peat free compost? ›

Benefits of peat-free compost

Going peat-free is great for the environment, and since many new mixes have been developed in recent years for every need, your plants will be happy too. Preserving rare peatlands is vital for the unique biodiversity they support, as well as for the wider environment.

Why do gardeners not like peat? ›

Perhaps most important, peat extraction and use for horticulture are simply not sustainable. Peat grows at a very slow rate, only 1/32 of an inch per year. With some of the bogs being as deep as 40 feet, that means we are potting plants and starting seeds in a resource that takes centuries to grow!

What can I use instead of peat compost? ›

Alternatives to peat. A wide range of peat-free growing media are now available, containing materials including bark, wood fibre, coir (pictured), anaerobic digestate, bracken, waste sheep's wool, sustainably farmed sphagnum moss and green waste compost.

What is the best compost for garden plants? ›

Multi-purpose or all-purpose peat free compost

A good quality peat free compost such as Miracle-Gro Premium Peat Free, can be used for pots and containers, planting in beds and borders, sowing larger seeds and taking cuttings as well as for growing fruit and vegetables.

Is Miracle Gro compost peat free? ›

Miracle-Gro Peat Free Premium All-Purpose Compost is part of the high-performing Miracle Gro peat-free range. Containing a unique formulation that will ensure your plants are fed for 3 months, this peat free compost provides the optimum structure for roots to grow strong and preventing them from drying out.

Can you use peat free compost for vegetables? ›

Peat-Free Fruit & Veg Compost 40L × 30

For Organic growers this is a perfect product to grow healthier food for your table. If planting seeds, cuttings or pricking out seedlings or planting tiny plug plants, please use our Seed & Cutting Compost.

Is peat being phased out? ›

Therefore, in August 2022, we announced a ban on the sale of peat and peat-containing products in the retail horticultural sector by 2024. The retail sector accounts for 70% of peat sold in the UK. The professional sector also utilises peat to grow some food products and plants ranging from oaks to rarer species.

Why is peat bad? ›

Peatlands are a unique ecosystem that support biodiversity and serve as carbon sinks. Peat releases huge amounts of stored carbon dioxide when it is harvested, which adds to greenhouse gas levels. Peat mining is effectively unsustainable – it grows back at just 1 mm a year.

Does the US have peat? ›

Peat deposits are found in many places around the world, including northern Europe and North America. The North American peat deposits are principally found in Canada and the Northern United States.

Why is peat being destroyed? ›

Peat bogs are destroyed for use in farming and as fuel. Peat bogs are broken up to form compost for farming. Moreover, they are burnt for fuel. This is dangerous as it releases a lot of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.

Why is peat decreasing? ›

Poorly located and designed built developments with associated drainage and excavation of peat can result in peatland degradation and habitat loss.

What is the problem with peat soil? ›

The problems with deep peat lie in its physical and chemical characteristics. Peat, in its natural state, contains excessive amount of water due to its low physiography and water holding capacity of 20 to 30 times its own weight. Consequently, aeration is poor and bulk density is very low at less than 0.1 g cm-3.

Why is peat drained? ›

A. Although wetlands are naturally productive systems, most of the food and fibre crops that support human life require dry conditions. As a results, farmers and foresters have drained large areas of upland and lowland peat throughout the UK.

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