Peat-free gardening ‘lacks choice’ say lobbyists

Home gardeners are experiencing a shortfall when buying peat-free gardening products, a new survey has revealed. The poll by Friends of the Earth, Plantlife, RSPB and the Wildlife Trusts found that just 19 per cent of almost 1,300 products for sale were clearly labelled ‘peat free’, with alternative composts more expensive than peat-based options. The survey also found little awareness or concern about the issues surrounding peat among retail staff.

The lobby group consider this shows how difficult it still is to buy ‘peat-free’, despite the high profile campaign against peat in the 1990s and early 2000s. Industry figures show that bagged peat-free compost increased from 5.9 per cent of the market in 2011, to nine per cent in 2015, with peat still used in more than half of the total material used in compost blends.

RSPB’s wildlife gardening expert Adrian Thomas was positive about peatfree composts, currently considering them “just as good if not better than peat”.

“The survey shows an appalling lack of choice for consumers and the devastating impact of this continuing trade on Europe’s peat bogs,” said Plantlife’s senior policy officer Jenny Hawley.

● Do you find there is a lack of peat-free products for sale? Write to GN at the address on page 57.

Peat alternative composts are often more expensive or hard to find