The peat debates

You should add your voice to the consultation, says Peter had three species of fungal infection

- Peter Seabrook

AN open letter, signed by over 40 leading names in the garden and horticultural world, asking for an open debate on the use of peat in gardens and commercial horticulture, was put into the public domain just before last Christmas (you can view it on gardenforum.com). It was published at the same time as the Government Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) published its 12-week consultative document planning to phase out the use of peat in the amateur horticulture sector by the end of this Parliament (see AG News, 22 Jan).

This letter accepted peat should not be used for soil improvement, but made the case for sphagnum moss peat from raised bogs to continue to be used for seed, cuttings and small pot plant growing. Environment Minister Rebecca Pow stated in the Defra document: “There are now more sustainable and good-quality peatfree alternatives available.”