On Your Farm

6.35AM, RADIO 4

Peat moss, also known as sphagnum moss, is remarkable stuff. It can hold more than 20 times its weight in fluid, and has antibacterial qualities. It was used for centuries as a wound dressing, for nappies and for introducing moisture into dry, sandy soil. Sphagnum moss is now being used in a number of new ways, including as an alternative to chlorine in swimming pools. Ruth Sanderson hears how it’s now being farmed to meet these new demands.