England’s Peat Action Plan!
Planning your garden for the Summer? This might be the perfect time to make the sustainable change to peat free compost. Read more about England’s Peat Action Plan…
England’s Peat Action Plan
In May 2021, the government announced its new ‘England Peat Action Plan’ which outlines a long-term management plan to protect and restore UK peatlands. Peat has been evaluated to be damaging to the environment. This is because when removed from its original state the peat reacts to the air and starts releasing large quantities of carbon dioxide. When the peat is exposed, it releases approximately 38 tonnes of carbon dioxide per hectare a year. Whereas if left in its natural state the peat bogs act as a huge sponge and contrastingly soak up carbon dioxide form the atmosphere. They also house a diverse range of habitats and serve as natural flood defence to the wider environment. The government’s goal is to make sure that England’s ‘peatland meets the needs of wildlife, people and the planet.’
A big aim of the project is to consult on banning the sale of peat and peat containing products. They intent to publish a full consultation actioning the phasing out the use of peat in horticulture. They have set the aim that by 2030 all of England’s soils will be managed sustainably and with support from investments they will be able to restore, protect and responsibly manage peat but also keep it under good hydrological conditions.
Despite peat being free draining and holding an optimum amount of moisture in turn creating the perfect conditions for seeds and young plants to develop the horticulture market has produced some impressive alternatives. It is important to investigate the care your peat free compost needs as they commonly need regular feeds and need watering often as the compost can rot and go dry a lot quicker.
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The type of soil you use is crucial to the quality of growth you receive from your seedlings. It is important to investigate what components are in your compost and to consider the wider environmental image as well as question the sustainability.
If you want your soil testing to know what components are found within as well as the quality of the soil, contact us at [email protected] for more details. This will give you a clearer idea of the quality and type of soil you have as well as giving you a gauge on if your soil needs more nourishing and care. We offer a variety of specific tests, if you visit our website, it will guide you through the various services we offer.
(Reference: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1010786/england-peat-action-plan.pdf )