Unfair to gardeners

Peter Auty, Great Hatfield.

We all know that peat bogs are carbon sinks, but to just malign gardeners for their demise is very unfair, as the article by Theresa Villiers (The Yorkshire Post, April 23) indicates.

Some 86 per cent of peat bogs are untouched by human activity, only 16 per cent is farmed and of that less than one per cent of peat is used in horticulture, where does the other 13 per cent go? Theresa Villiers does not mention that.

She mentions coir as a replacement for peat, but does not mention the pollution this causes to rivers and seas in countries where it is produced (not in my back yard), not to mention the pollution from the huge vessels bringing it to our country, or the monkeys used to harvest the coconuts who are kept in dire circumstances.

The RHS conducted trials into peat-free compost in 2011. It was concluded that it was not fit for purpose. The RHS conducted a new set of trials last year into peatfree compost, as yet they are not complete, so are inconclusive.

With new technologies in peat farming and the restoration of farmed bogs and taking the sheer weight of plants grown in peatbased compost it would be just about carbon neutral.

Peat needs to be maintained in seed, potting and ericaceous composts as it is the best for germination, root formation when potted on and acid-loving plants.

It is a malady that whenever peat farming is talked or written about only gardening is mentioned, no other users are mentioned, this is totally unfair and irresponsible.

Worldwide only Britain is proposing to ban peat in compost, the Government has capitulated to the green lobby and certain quangos to the detriment of the much-loved hobby of gardening enjoyed by millions throughout the country.