Yesterday , March 8 , in a webinar organized by Chartered Institute of Horticulture ( CIH ) , Catherine Dawnson of Melcourt gave her position , as a maker , on peat - free growing medium in the UK . In the webinar , she present alternatives to peat , if there is enough to go around and if it is too expensive . On top of that , she also glint light on the Responsible Sourcing scheme that makes the encroachment of these products more transparent view and how the time to come will look like for peat as well as the choice .
The webinar has been recorded . Below a sum-up of what has been discussed .
phase out peat in the UKPeat is a brilliant product for produce media , however it is an unsustainable ware . Therefore , in many industries as well as in the horticulture manufacture , company seek to minimize their use of it . In the UK , for about two decennium now , the government is compress on the reduction in quantity of peat used in many domain as well as for commercial and domesticated horticultural intention .
Non - peat ingredientsSo what to utilise rather of peat ? Dawson explains that tot non peat ingredients require the following properties : it require to be renewable , consistent , available , UK source ( preferably ) , low in pH scale and depressed in nutrients . " At the minute , we have only four material as alternatives , namely barque , Grant Wood character ( extruded and compost ) , coir , and green compost . This latter one is used very little for the professional horticulture industry . "
And of each alternative , has it ’s pros and hustle . Bark , for example does not slumps like peat , but as it is not compressible , it is more expensive to transport . Coir is renewable , very available and holds moister well , but needs to come from far .
ResponsibleSourcing schemeSo , each raw textile has its pro and cons . In fiat to get an insight in their social and environmental impact , a dodging has been created that makes the sourcing process and the wallop more diaphanous . This industriousness - led scheme is an example of how UK gardening actively seeks to improve its sustainability and the aim is formulated as follows : " To ensure growing metier is made from materials that are source and manufactured in a way that is both socially and environmentally creditworthy " , as stated on the web pageboy ofGrowing Media Association . The schema will enable users of the scheme to source cloth more responsibly , which we hope will help to improve the sustainability of this part of their businesses , they say .
Increasing requirement for alternativesFor several years , the demand for alternative is increase , however , since Bord na Mona make up one’s mind to end all peat origin on its own land , it made hoi polloi realize that the oddment of peat is really real now . The industry is work hard on finding , trialing and introducing fresh material . Will there be enough and will they be quick on time ? Yes , there will be enough fabric , but the timescale to fulfill the gap that is leave by peat might be a challenge , she explain . For this reason , the diligence is ferment firmly to trial new materials .
For more information : Chartered Institute of Horticulturewww.horticulture.org.uk
