Authors:
P.L. Waller
Book:
Proceedings of the 14th International Peat Congress
Venue:
Stockholm
Keywords:
horticulture, peat, uk
Documentfile:
Waller 2012: The Rise and Fall of Peat in UK Horticulture
Summary:
Theme II. Peat for horticulture, energy and other uses
SUMMARY
This paper provides a chronological review of the use of peat in UK growing media with particular emphasis on developments since 2005. Recent Government initiatives to phase out all horticultural peat use by 2030 and the responses of sections of the horticultural industry are discussed together with latest available data on the extent of peat replacement in the UK and elsewhere in the EU. 100 years after the birth of John Innes compost – it seems quite possible that the horticultural use of peat in the UK could be reduced to almost zero for flawed and politically driven reasons.