The government stated today that from 2024, no peat would be sold to amateur gardeners in England (Saturday 27th August).
The greatest carbon storage area in the UK is a peatland, although only around 13% of them are in a condition that is close to being natural.
Drainage for agricultural purposes, excessive grazing and burning, as well as extraction for use as growth material, are all to blame for this deterioration.
70% of the peat supplied in the UK is packaged for retail use as growth media, and it is commonly mishandled. For instance, it is widely used as a soil conditioner rather than a growing medium for plants.
The carbon contained within the bog is released as carbon dioxide during this extraction, which contributes to climate change.
Peat extraction also deteriorates the condition of the larger peatland ecosystem, harming the habitats of some of our most endangered animals, like the swallowtail butterfly, hen harriers, and short-eared owls, and impairing peat’s capacity to filter water and prevent floods.
The water supply in the UK passes through or settles in peatlands in substantial amounts.
The actions made public today will help with efforts to reach net zero and our ambitious goal of recovering 35,000 hectares of peatlands by 2025.
An intensive public survey that garnered more than 5,000 replies and a majority of over 95% in favour of government action to outlaw retail peat sales led to the announcement.
Recognizing that the professional horticulture industry confronts extra technical obstacles that will take longer to overcome, the Government has also committed to continuing to work closely with the sector to hasten the transition to peat-free alternatives prior to a ban for the sector.
A new $5 million fund is also being established by the government to encourage the use of peatlands for sustainable agriculture. Paludiculture, or farming on rewetted peatland, will be encouraged as a result, helping to better protect food security, provide substitutes for horticultural peat, and lessen environmental effects.
Richard Benyon, the environment minister, said:
This government is aware of how critical it is to maintain healthy peatlands both locally and globally in order to store up carbon, increase drought resistance, and act as a potent natural countermeasure to climate change.
As part of our pledges to attain Net Zero and carry out our 25 Year Environment Plan, the steps announced today open a new chapter in the history of our famous peatlands by ensuring their long-term health and vibrancy.
Tony Juniper, the chairman of Natural England, said:
Peatlands are priceless ecosystems that support beautiful and unique fauna, assist to cleanse the water, create distinctive vistas, and lower the danger of flooding.
With a capacity of more than 580 million tonnes, they are also our greatest natural carbon sinks.
An important step in safeguarding these priceless natural resources and enabling the rehabilitation of damaged regions is the restriction on the sale of peat-based compost and the effort to gradually phase it out in other locations.
We have given more than £11 million to restore lowland sites in the south-west of England and upland sites in the north of England as part of our ongoing effort to restore thousands of hectares of peatland ecosystems on the ground alongside Defra and partners.
In addition to storing carbon, these initiatives will aid in the recovery of some of our most endangered animals, lower the risk of flooding, and make landscapes more resistant to the effects of climate change, such as drought and fire.
Director of Science and Collections of the Royal Horticultural Society, Professor Alistair Griffiths, stated:
The biggest terrestrial carbon sink in the world, peatlands have a significant capacity to store carbon over a long period of time and contribute to net zero emissions.
When rewetted, they lower the chance of floods, cut down on fire danger, and provide beneficial habitats for both plants and animals.
It is crucial that we make a sustainable transition to alternate growth medium devoid of peat in order to address the climate and biodiversity issues.
The RHS discontinued the sale of growth media bags made of peat in 2019 and will keep collaborating with Defra, business, and gardeners to hasten the transition to peat-free media.
Natural England has today given approximately £11 million to six projects via round two of the Nature for Climate Fund Peatland Restoration Grant to assist restoration efforts on more than 7,000 hectares of peatland, in addition to the more than 8,000 hectares previously supported through round one.
The Great North Bog and Moors for the Future partnerships restored highland sites in the north of England, while the Somerset Peatland Partnership convened to restore lowland sites in the south-west. Round two of the Restoration Grant has funded a mix of lowland and upland restoration operations.
The recipients of our second round of Discovery Grants will also be announced soon.
The development of new horticultural peat substitutes, including those made via paludiculture, offers England the chance to preserve the environment through the creation of green jobs and to take the lead in the manufacture and export of sustainable growth medium.