For peat’s sake – when’s it going to end?

In the face of constant debate about the ongoing use of peat, both for home gardeners and the horticultural industry, why is the Government not doing more to stop peat extraction and peat imports from the EU? Also, now that the UK is no longer in the EU, how will this affect the importation of peat and how can Britain stop the use of peat and peat-bog extraction? Why has the Government left it to the horticulture industry to self-regulate the use of peat, without imposing tougher regulations. Also, the labelling on peat-free products is confusing, with some manufacturers/suppliers not explicitly stating whether peat is or is not included in a product.

Margaret Halstead, Oxfordshire I’ve just read your article Countdown For Peat (January issue) and I wanted to say that I have been peat free for two years now. At first, there weren’t many alternatives, but now there’s quite a few and I find they are perfectly fine for my plants. I have no intention of going back to peatbased compost. If everyone would give it a go and pay that little bit more, then I think they would be quite surprised at the outcome. I hope the Government does keep to a deadline this time but we are reliant on the industry backing this up. I hope to read a new article – ‘peat free at last‘ – in your magazine, soon. Amanda Lawrie, by email We say: Do you use peat-based or peat-free composts? Tell us via the contacts below.