Wyevale Garden Centres have become the first national retailer to stock Dalefoot’s eco-friendly & sustainable Wool Compost, made from sheep’s wool and bracken.

A total of 40 Wyevale stores as far afield as Hayle in Cornwall and Morpeth in Northumberland are now selling the product.

The National Trust’s Morden Hall Park garden centre, the UK’s first all peat free garden retailer, is also now selling Wool Compost as well as Dalefoot’s Wool Compost for Seeds and Wool Compost Ericaceous.

The range is on sale as well at acclaimed horticultural hotspot Petersham Nurseries.

Other new Wool Compost retailers include Charlies Stores in Welshpool, Burford Garden Company, Alleyn Park Garden Centre in West Dulwich, Potash Garden Centre in Essex, The Herb Farm near Reading and Hayes Garden Land in Ayrshire.

Dalefoot Compost’s Wool Compost range cleverly harnesses the natural properties of wool to trap water, whilst releasing a steady steam of nutrients to feed the plants over the growing season. Made from totally renewable British resources, the range has composts forcontainer growing, flowers, vegetables, shrubs, seeds and ericaceous plants.

Dalefoot appointed its first sales and marketing manager, Paula Davies, last autumn and has plans to continue expanding its business to premium trade outlets and develop new products for eco-conscious gardeners. The range is also available online at www.dalefootcomposts.co.uk.

Wool Compost is made on a 120-acre family farm at Dalefoot in the Lake District fells by farmer Simon Bland and environmental scientist Jane Barker, using wool from their own flock and the Herdwick ‘wool-clip’ of neighbouring hill farmers, including National Trust tenants.

As well as helping the growing number of gardeners who want to switch to peat free, the compost finds a novel use for British wool - good news for struggling sheep farmers.

Simon Bland said: “We’re making it easier for customers by giving them the choice of buying our compost online or at their local garden centre. This will hopefully encourage more people to try our compost and convert to using peat free in their own gardens. We’re also keen to hear from more retailers interested in stocking our Wool Compost range.”

The compost has a similar soft texture to peat and has a wide range of naturally occurring trace elements for good plant health. It uses the natural hydroscopic properties of sheep’s wool to keep compost moist for longer which is particularly important when buds set during the summer and essential for those summer hanging baskets. Wool also provides a steady release of nitrogen, perfect as a slow release fertiliser.

The use of bracken in Wool Compost is also beneficial. The spread of this aggressive, waist-high plant in the Lake District makes grazing difficult and impacts upon native species. Composted it boasts high levels of natural potash, essential for fruiting and flowering. A win for nature lovers and gardeners alike.

As well as making peat free compost, Jane and Simon also help save Britain’s ancient peat bogs. They run a leading peat bog restoration contracting firm responsible for re-introducing peat forming sphagnum across hundreds of hectares of degraded upland and lowland bogs of Northern England and Scotland for clients such as Yorkshire Peat Partnership, Cumbria Wildlife Trust, Scottish Natural Heritage and Natural England. So they are real peat free champions!

To contact Dalefoot call 01931 713281 or email info@dalefootcomposts.co.uk