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Defra blog's about media reporting on peat-ban for the professional Horticulture sector
HTA statement on Defra decision on peat
UK Government confirms ban on all peat-based gardening products will not be implemented until 2030  - Comment from The Wildlife Trusts
Quest to find sustainable alternative to peat boosted by £320,000 investment
Garden centre sales see February boost
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Compost bag recycling scheme at Blue Diamond
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Dobbies offers free seeds in partnership with the BBC's Let It Grow initiative
The Blue Diamond Group are proudly supporting the BBC’s Let it Grow initiative this Spring
Record number of Colegrave Seabrook Scholarship winners announced
GIMA New Product Digest Spring 2023 - A valuable source of reference for the UK Garden Trade - Read on-line here
spoga+gafa 2023: More area, more exhibitors, more trends
Biosecurity, imports & exports will be debated at the 51st Four Oaks Trade Show – 5 & 6 September 2023, Cheshire
Tingley Garden Centre celebrates first gardening season
73% of Brits plan to grow their own fruit and veg
Dutch flowers in St. Peter’s Square in Rome
Confectionery giant introduces Danish brand to garden centres
Yorkshire Garden Centres group reaches final of regional food and drink award
Awards Special Issue of GTN - GTN's Greatest Christmas Awards - Garden Centre Association Awards - Read on-line now
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Schoolyards can help cities adapt to climate change
Hestercombe Gardens Trust founder to retire
HTA calls for new GB-NI horticulture forum to develop Windsor Framework
Seasonal fairs in 2023 with Meet & Trade
AIPH conference offers insight into Portugal’s horticulture industry
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GIMA members hear positive outlook from Dobbies Garden Centres and British Garden Centre Group
Bents Garden & Home finalist in North West Family Business Award
Bramblecrest brings you the ‘Moon Garden’
Yellow is the new Green! 
New for 2023: Greenworks 24V 4'' Brushless Pruning Saw/Mini Chainsaw
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Christmas Inspiration by the bucket load - Photo Tours of all The Greatest Gold Award winning centres
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UK Government confirms ban on all peat-based gardening products will not be implemented until 2030  - Comment from The Wildlife Trusts

 

Defra has confirmed that while some peat-containing products will be banned from shelves in 2027, others will be exempt from a ban until 2030. This means that for some professional growers, peat use will still be permitted for the next 7 years. 

 

Ailis Watt, peat policy officer at The Wildlife Trusts says: “Today’s announcement is bitterly disappointing. Last year we welcomed the news that the UK Government would ban the sale of bagged peat compost in England by the end of 2024. The Wildlife Trusts hoped that a ban on all peat products would follow shortly after this date.  

 

“The destruction of irreplaceable peatlands for gardening should have been outlawed long ago. These precious habitats are vital for nature and for our climate because they store vast amounts of carbon and are home to some of the UK’s most special wildlife. We need to see far greater levels of ambition if the UK is to relinquish its status as one of the most nature-depleted countries on Earth or come close to achieving net zero emissions by 2050. Peatlands must be better protected as a matter of urgency.”  

 

Today’s announcement will allow a large proportion of professional growers to continue to use peat to grow plants and mushrooms. According to data from the Growing Media Monitor, plug plants and mushroom production alone made up 42% of all peat used by professional growers in 2021.  

 

For decades the UK Government set ineffective voluntary targets to tackle the horticulture industry’s use of peat and its corresponding habitat destruction. The Wildlife Trusts have repeatedly urged the Government to enforce bans for the last 30 years. 

 

The Wildlife Trusts are calling upon the UK Government to: 

  • Ban the extraction and commercial trade of peat immediately
  • Ban all horticultural uses of peat as soon as parliamentary timeframes allow, or by 2024 at the latest 
  • Restore all bogs damaged by the removal of peat by 2030  

Ailis Watt continues: “The decision to allow the sale of peat-containing products to continue until 2030 does not reflect the value of peatlands - here and abroad - and is at odds with this Government's manifesto commitment to ‘deliver the most ambitious environmental programme of any country on earth’.

 

“It contradicts the notion that gardening is an activity which is beneficial to nature and places a burden of responsibility on the consumer to ensure they are not inadvertently buying environmentally destructive peat-based products.” 

 

The Wildlife Trusts estimate that policy failure to stop peat extraction has caused up to 31 million tonnes of CO2 to be released since 1990. 

 

Picture: Peat bog © Mark Hamblin

 

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