With no Government legislation on a Peat ban, no official guidance on Peat Free definitions and little funding, the RHS is having to introduce concessions at its world leading Flower Shows to support growers in their final stages of transitioning to 100% Peat Free up to 2028.The RHS had been striving to be Peat Free across all its operations in 2026.

Next year in 2026, an estimated 40% of nurseries exhibiting in the Floral Marquee at RHS Shows will be allowed to sell Peat Starter Plants, which started life grown in a small plug containing peat and were then grown on peat free. The decision is due to a complex horticultural supply chain where 60% of young plants, many grown in peat, are sourced from abroad and to help safeguard nurseries who are vital to maintain Britain’s extraordinary plant diversity.

However, the horticultural industry has made significant headway in transitioning to peat free and in 2026 all Show Gardens, Judged Floral Displays and Trade Stands at RHS Flower Shows will be No New Peat Plants (either 100% peat free plants or plants grown in an element of peat before Dec 2025).  The UK continues to lead the world in the transition to a peat free future.

RHS Director General, Clare Matterson CBE, says: “Every decision we make is about growing an environmentally sustainable industry and maintaining our position as world leader in peat free horticulture.

“However, without any Government legislation on banning peat, it’s not a level playing field for growers leading the charge and the RHS as a charity can’t steer this ship alone.  Despite the lack of legislation, we along with the industry, have made great headway, but it’s disappointing with so much effort, investment and trailblazing work we’ve had to make this decision today.

“Whilst some nurseries have excelled at going peat free, it would be damaging not to support the nurseries still making huge investment in their transition to be peat free. As the UK’s gardening charity, we need to support them, not punish them, for their efforts and through the final stages of changeover.    

“The more growers producing peat-free plants, the better for the planet.”The Government has still not defined what ‘peat-free’ means for consumers given there is old peat in the supply chain for plants that have been growing for several years.  To provide clarity for gardeners wanting to choose the best plants for the planet, the RHS has created its own definitions to help the public make informed choices:    

• No New Peat Plants – plants grown entirely peat free or older plants containing peat extracted before 31 December 2025
• Peat Starter Plants – plants which started their life in peat (as a plug plant or liner) but have since been grown peat free
• Peat Plants – grown in peat since 31st December  2025

In 2026, the RHS President’s Award for nurseries in the Great Pavilion at RHS Chelsea will only be open to growers who have transitioned to No New Peat Plants.  The RHS is looking at other ways to celebrate these growers.               

Over the last 12 years the RHS has spent 150,000 hours researching peat free growing and supporting the industry to transition. The charity has invested £2.5 million into peat free research, engaged over 850 nurseries in workshops and discussions, provided tailored advice for over 200 retailers and is undertaking major research projects with growing media manufacturers and ten commercial nurseries who produce circa 500 million plants each year.    

Clare finishes: “We need to save precious reserves in our peatlands to help with carbon storage and sequestration, help mitigate climate change and provide a home for nature. We’re an island here with no legislation on peat, little funding for research or knowledge transfer and not enough support for our voluntary peat-free ambitions, we need Government to step in and see UK horticulture continue to lead the way transitioning to become peat free.”    

The industry is reliant on the 60% of young plants – predominantly Peat Starter Plants - brought in from overseas, primarily Holland.  With no Government legislation on peat imports and complex supply chains, nurseries remain dependent on these lines as the UK transitions to Peat Free. To support sustainable growing and nurseries to make the important transition to peat free the RHS is calling for funding for research and development into technology and potting compost alternatives and clear legislation.    

The RHS’s five gardens at Bridgewater, Wisley, Rosemoor, Hyde Hall and Harlow Carr will all be No New Peat Plants only by June this year and the aim for its retail outlets is to be peat free by end of 2025, with major work being undertaken on supply chain challenges.  There will be no Peat Plants across RHS Operations from 2026.    

The RHS has been growing No New Peat within its own nurseries for the last two years and has been 98% Peat Free for nearly 25 years.