Sun's Peter Seabrook uses GTN charts to raise peat issue
Gardening columnist Peter Seabrook has raised the controversial 'peat in compost' issue in his Sun column, quoting Garden Trade News data to back up his argument that it shouldn't be phased out.
"If you think peat shouldn't be used in compost, remember 92% of peat harvested in Ireland is burnt in power stations or as briquettes," wrote Peter.
"Why is compost an issue if you can buy and burn a 25kg bundle of briquettes and no one blinks an eye? The scale of production is vast.
"It only seems to be a UK issue – at last month's IPM trade show no other country was pahsing it out."
Peter said it was good that the top two composts in the GTN Bestsellers chart last week were different pack sizes of Jack's Magic All Purpose Compost.
He added that compost sales were a good indicator of the nation's interest in gardening, and that the signs were good for a successful year for retailers.
Tim Briercliffe, Director of Business Development at the Growing Media Association, said the UK was committed to phasing out peat completely.
"Peter is right that it is a UK issue because other European countries are not concerned about the issue," Tim told GTN Xtra. "But the UK government is concerned about what happens here in regard to horticulture and gardening.
"A Sustainable Growing Media Task Force was set up last year with the goal of convincing retailers and consumers that peat-free composts can work effectively. The Task Force has drawn up a route map for the implentation of more sustainable growing media."
The UK's targets are for peat-free to be implemented in the public sector by 2015, in the amateur gardening sector by 2020, and in all sectors by 2030.
Defra Minister Richard Benyon is due to meet garden retailers in London on March 12 to outline his views on the way forward.
