Green move to ban sale of garden peat
GREEN campaigners have welcomed a ban on sales of peat by 2024 – saying the move will help preserve precious bog lands and cut greenhouse gasses.
The Government have announced the move in a raft of environmental measures which aim to help reduce greenhouse gases.
In an extensive public consultation, more than 95 per cent taking part favoured a full retail ban.
Peat releases huge amounts of stored carbon dioxide when it is harvested, adding to greenhouse gas levels.
The move to ban retail sales was last night welcomed by prominent gardeners and environmentalists who said it was “essential”.
Daily Express gardening guru Alan Titchmarsh said: “We’ve been fortunate over the last few years to have seen great advances in the provision of peat substitutes in seed sowing and potting composts. But we do need to take action to conserve our natural resources of peat and I welcome this action which will help safeguard our valuable peat bogs and encourage even more research into peat substitutes.”
Tony Juniper, chair of Natural England, said: “Peatlands are precious ecosystems that harbour beautiful and fascinating wildlife, shape the character of iconic landscapes, purify water and help to reduce flood risk.”
Peatlands are the UK’s largest carbon store but only approximately 13 per cent of them are in a near-natural state.
Peat extraction degrades the wider landscape, damaging habitats for rare wildlife, such as the swallowtail butterfly, hen harriers and short-eared owls, and impacting its ability to prevent flooding and filter water.