For Peat's Sake
Post categories: Gilly Brennan
| 19:45 UK time, Tuesday, 7 July 2009
In Friday's programme Joe Swift and Simon Thornton-Wood from the RHS will talk about their peat policy for future shows and some of the growers will be voicing their concerns. If you're concerned about the use of peat and have a question you'd like to ask, post it here.
Lovely Dave Parkinson, grower of the even lovelier Disa orchids, is a grower that's worried about the issue. The dainty, brightly coloured Disa orchids that Dave breeds and grows at home in Goole, E Yorkshire, originate from South Africa, where they grow on the slopes of Table Mountain. They thrive in very specific conditions, wet, acid, low nutrient, peaty bogs and Dave has worked hard to get his growing medium just right. This is where the problem arises, Dave has found that his ideal mix is a combination of 60% peat and 40% perlite and, try as he might, nothing else works as well, or is as close to the orchids' natural environment.
The RHS policy on the use of peat is clear, it fully supports the government target of a 90% peat reduction in all growing media by 2010. This policy extends to all its gardens and it encourages all exhibitors at RHS shows to follow suit.
Exhibiting at flower shows is crucial to Dave's business. Shows are where he showcases his Disas (he has won 7 RHS gold medals), and where his customers can place orders. He is worried about how the RHS 'no peat' rule will affect him - will the exhibitors be policed and possibly excluded for using peat?
Is there a case for limited, responsible use of peat in horticulture ?
There are vast world reserves of peat and the industry does seem to be taking notice of environmental concerns. Canada has 25% of the world's peat supply, they only harvest a tiny fraction of their reserves and would have you believe they are responsible environmentalists.
You can read more about their policy for peat use here:
The Canadians also claim to be finding ways to speed up the regeneration process after peat harvesting, but it's very hard to know who to believe when so many 'experts' have vested interests.
In this country it seems that gardeners have taken notice of warnings about the unsustainability of peat harvesting and the government target of a 40% reduction in peat usage by 2005, was met. However Defra have admitted that the next target of 90% replacement of peat by 2010 is too ambitious. Practically, that means that 84% of growing media used should be non-peat. This will not be achieved, but it's moving in the right direction, so gardeners and growers are to be congratulated.
It's a pity that golfers in desert countries can't be persuaded to take up beach volley ball or boules instead - that would save a few million tons of Baltic peat. Apparently peat is also used in feminine hygiene products - not quite sure how, but ladies, do your duty - ask for 'peat free' in future.
Comment number 1.
At 8th Jul 2009, Trillium wrote:I don't see any big contradition here. Most plants - probably more than 90% - will grow happily in good peat free compost. If a small proportion really only grow in peat - (and garden demand will be limited anyway because so few people can plant them out!) then that fits within the 10% anyway.
I run a small commercial nursery and use peat free compost for everything except a few shrubs. It's just a case of finding the right product.
As for feminine hygiene products - I don't think we're talking main supermarket brands, though the chemicals and energy used in their production are probably equally environmentally challenging.
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