Peat is formed over thousands of years by partly decomposed wetland plants which are compacted at a rate of 1mm per year. This means that the loss of peat by mass harvesting for horticulture is irreversible over human timescales.
Caption: Degraded Blanket Bog
We are passionate about saving peat and the flora and fauna associated with it. Once it is gone it is too late.
The Royal Horticultural Society shares public concern in reducing peat use to minimise the effects of global peat extraction on peat bog habitats and supports progress towards the Defra target of a total withdrawal of peat use by amateur gardeners by 2020.
The RHS would like clearer labelling of growing media, its composition and instructions for use, enabling gardeners to make an informed choice and at its’ flower shows it bans the use of peat for staging.
Many growers and producers of plants are now using our compost as an alternative to peat, with excellent results.