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PEAT-FREE GROWERS

In Our Minds, No Grower Should Be Using Peat Compost, Ever

This is because we fully understand the reasoning behind this position and the importance of peat bogs in our landscapes. But we also know that not everyone appreciates the detail and scale of this issue.

We are working in partnership with the RHS and British garden designer, writer and television presenter, Arit Anderson, to increase awareness of this important subject, and demonstrate that creating a beautiful garden is absolutely possible without the use of peat.

The Reasons to Use Peat-Free Compost Are Compelling and Urgent

Here are some facts to make this real for you …

Our peatlands represent a huge carbon store: globally, they cover just 3% of global land surface but contain 30% of all soil carbon, and UK peatlands alone store 3.2 billion tonnes of carbon.

Once peatland habitats are disturbed for extraction, stored carbon becomes carbon dioxide (CO2) and disperses in to the atmosphere forever, contributing directly to our planet’s climate change emergency. 

To Put This Into Some Context:

The peat extracted for UK horticulture in 2020 could release enough CO2 over its lifetime as a growing medium to drive an average passenger car 2.2 billion miles – to the moon and back more than 4,600 times!

The Wildlife Trust

If just 5% more of our peatlands were to go, the amount of carbon emitted directly into our atmosphere would be similar to the total man-made greenhouse gas emissions made in our country in a whole year.

The Wildlife Trust

Damaged peatlands are responsible for almost 5% of global CO2 emissions. Whereas the aviation industry (often thought of as one of the most carbon-intensive activities) only contributes 2.5% of the world’s carbon emissions.

Our World in Data & IUCN

Playing Our Part

Our nursery and the health of our trees are living proof that peat compost is far from essential for successful growth.

The Government (DEFRA) recently 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 peat use will still be permitted for some professional growers for the next seven years.

We believe gardeners and the horticulture industry have a huge part to play in the reduction of peat use and the fight against climate change.

Destroying these critical ecosystems in the name of horticulture, whilst seeking to increase the presence of nature in our lives, seems like a huge contradiction and completely absurd.

Every Pot Counts

We implore you to share our stance by committing to peat-free growing mediums throughout your supply chain and gardens. Seek out the growers and retailers who are committed to doing the right thing, there are lots of us out there.

We are fiercely dedicated to sustainability and the environment and we’re passionate about eradicating the use of peat in British horticulture.


Our approach to sustainability