A blooming good result for gardeners and biodiverity

A new Act on CO2 campaign launched today will encourage gardeners to use peat-free products; one of the simplest yet most effective ways of making a positive environmental impact and reducing our carbon footprint.

Launching the campaign at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Environment Secretary Hilary Benn announced plans to phase out peat for the amateur gardener market by 2020.

Mr Benn said:

“The horticultural industry has made progress in reducing peat use over recent years, but given the urgency of reducing our emissions we need to go much further. I know that the proposed 2020 phase-out target for the amateur market will be challenging, but we know this is what we need to do. Peat soils are extremely valuable carbon stores as well as being home to wildlife and important to archaeology, and we should be doing everything we can to protect them.

“Amateur gardeners are by far the biggest users of peat, using over 2 million cubic metres each year. Our research shows us that gardeners often don’t realise the damage that peat extraction causes or that the compost they’re buying contains peat. That is why we’re launching this campaign today to raise awareness of the damage using peat-based composts can cause and help us as gardeners to choose alternative peat-free compost products.”

Defra has been working with the horticultural trade, DIY chains and garden centres to provide information for gardeners on peat-free products. Today’s announcements mean that garden centres and DIY stores would cease to sell peat-based composts for the amateur gardening market within ten years and switch to peat-free alternatives instead. Defra will also work with the industry on proposals to further reduce the horticultural use of peat in both the amateur and professional markets, with plans to publish a formal consultation document in the summer.

Peat extraction for use in garden compost causes significant damage to the environment by harming valuable natural habitats and by releasing carbon dioxide (CO2) into the atmosphere that contributes to climate change. The Act on CO2 Peat Free campaign, with its important messages for protecting our natural environment, is part of the world-wide UN International Year of Biodiversity 2010 celebrations.

19 March 2010