Peter Burks, GCA CEO, says: “Following the Government’s announcement on March 23, that all retail sales of peat would cease at the end of 2024, and that nurseries are to no longer use peat after 2026, we have been discussing with our members and have two concerns.

“Firstly, we believe there needs to be government support to enable good quality, alternative substrates to be available in sufficient quantity to replace all the peat currently in use.

“This needs to be made available to both growers and retailers to ensure neither is trying to make do with a poor product.

“Secondly, we are concerned that British nurseries have neither the time, nor the capacity to make up the deficit on imported plants, if plants grown in peat abroad are not going to be allowed to be imported. More time needs to be allowed for this change.

“Allowing plants grown in peat to be imported into the country in direct competition with our own growers, who would be 100% peat free, would be very difficult in what is sure to be challenging times.”

The GCA represents more than 200 garden centres nationwide.

Through sharing information and its inspection programme the GCA helps members to achieve high standards in customer service, plant quality and reliability.

For further information, please visit www.gca.org.uk.