While many gardeners now seek out peat-free bags of compost at the garden centre, peat still hides in other products like potted house plants and trays of bedding plants, for unsuspecting gardeners to purchase.
Peat is a type of soil, rich in carbon and excellent at retaining water which is found across these islands.
As well as being an iconic part of our countryside, the UK’s peatlands hold more carbon than the forests of the UK, France and Germany combined. As a habitat, peat can support multiple species, including the golden plover and the iconic hen harrier.
The UK is blessed with an abundance of peatland, which covers 12% of our land area, and we are home to many globally rare blanket bogs.
Protecting our precious peatlands is crucial for safeguarding nature and combating climate change.
Worryingly, a staggering 87% of England’s peatlands are degraded.
This means that they are no longer able to provide the same quality of wildlife habitat as previously, and they are also more prone to emitting carbon dioxide that has been locked up for centuries.
While this Conservative Government has been investing millions of pounds to restore our peatlands, these efforts will be in vain if we do not also address the reasons for their depletion.
There are a range of causes of damage to peatland habitats, but one of these is extraction for gardening products.
If we are to meet our goals on nature recovery and net zero, then we need to bring this extraction to an end and move on to more sustainable alternatives for horticulture.
Especially at this time of the year, colourful back gardens are one of our country’s greatest assets.
They are a vital part of our environment, our culture, and our way of life, but action is needed to prevent Britain’s army of gardening enthusiasts from inadvertently damaging peatland.
Although huge strides to go peat-free have been made by the likes of B&Q, the Royal Horticultural Association, and Chester Zoo, the gardening sector’s demand for peat-based products persists.
In 2011, the horticulture industry was given a decade to voluntarily phase out peat in the retail amateur gardening sector, but progress has not been fast enough.
This is why this Conservative Government committed in 2022 to banning the use of peat and peat containing products in amateur horticulture.
I am presenting a Bill to Parliament which would create the legislative means to make that happen. Phasing out peat use in professional horticulture will take longer, but we need a timetable for this too.
While a well-tended garden is a source of pride for so many of us, this pastime has unwittingly contributed to the degradation of precious peatlands.
By removing peat-based products from the market, peat-free products become the default option for all gardeners.
The alternatives may not have all of the positive features of peat, but they are affordable and available. Making the switch to these alternatives is an important step forward for protecting wildlife habitats and averting climate change.
First published by The Daily Express. Theresa Villiers MP (Chipping Barnet) is a member of the Conservative Environment Network.
댓글