Climate change: England's gardeners face peat compost ban

Image source, Getty Images

There will be a ban on the sale of peat to amateur gardeners in England in four years' time.

It's part of a pledge to restore the lands.

The UK's rainforests are referred to as the UK's boggy places because of their ability to absorb carbon dioxide.

Climate change can be caused by the fact that peat dries out rather than storing greenhouse gases.

70% of the peat sold in the UK is in products for everyday gardeners.

The government will work with growers before banning the professional horticulture industry.

The Environment Minister said he was working with the governments on the issue.

Peatland is one of the most important areas of the natural world because of the large amount of carbon locked up.

If you dig it up out of the ground, the carbon store will be broken down and carbon dioxide will be released into the atmosphere, he said.

After an enormous amount of work by the industry and government to find alternatives, we have taken this decision and there is no alternative to a ban on peat.

Most of the UK's moors and fens are in a poor state after being drained for farming or mining.

• Until the ban comes in, peat can still found in multi-purpose composts and growing bags, unless labelled peat-free - words such as "environmentally friendly" and "organic" don't necessarily mean peat-free

• You can buy peat-free alternatives made from the likes of bark, coconut fibre or sheep's wool or make your own compost

• Put your garden waste in council bins for use locally

The government pledged to set aside £50 million to restore peatlands after launching a public consultation on the use of peat in horticulture.

The majority of responses were in favor of the proposal. The ban will be in effect by the end of the year. Farmers will be supported to grow crops on re-wet land thanks to the Nature for Climate Fund.

Peat removal in the UK should be banned, as environmental groups have been campaigning for many years.

"We absolutely need to protect these really vital sources of carbon, and it is right that the government is taking action," said Georgia.

"However, it's not enough and it's not quick enough; the ban on retail sales of peat isn't going to end the exploitation of peat."

Image source, Getty Images

Peat is imported and mined in the UK, but volumes have declined in recent years.

Many of the jobs and income in the UK are in the area.

The council said that there were a limited number of sites in the area.

The number of operational sites is decreasing but we don't have figures for the amount removed.

The current planning policy mirrors the National Planning Policy Framework, which would make it unlikely that new planning permission would be granted.

Most, if not all, of the licenses will be completed in advance of the end of 2042.

The drainage channels that used to be used for mining have been turned over to conserve.

The wetlands at Westhay Nature Reserve are home to rare birds such as bitterns and curlews.

At Honeygar farm, the Somerset Wildlife Trust is trying to return land that has been drained for farming.

Image source, MichaelHolmanRedForgeStudios

This involves blocking artificial drainage ditches and gullies.

Steve said that once that happens you start to create habitat.

Peat builds up over the course of hundreds of years.

In the UK, more than 18 million tonnes of carbon are released every year.