Planting without peat

You may be aware that peat extraction for horticultural use will be subject to a ban at the end of this year, and the industry is waiting for this legislation to be brought in.

Undisturbed peatland holds as much carbon as the same area of rainforest and, when the peat is exposed, carbon is oxidised to form carbon dioxide which is released into the atmosphere and this is increasing global warming.

Nailsworth Rotary recognised this potential problem with peat and, in 2016, became aware that a local company, Melcourt Ltd based near Tetbury, had been producing a peat-free product since 2000 called ‘Sylvagrow’. Thanks to the Melcourt’s generosity we have used this product in our floral displays in the town with great success since that time. The product now holds a Royal warrant and is endorsed by the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) who have themselves been at the forefront of encouraging growers and gardeners to switch to peat-free products which are mainly based on wood fibres and coir, a by- product of the coconut industry. ‘Sylvagrow’ can be obtained locally from the Blue Diamond garden centre in Nailsworth, and also from Brown’s Timber yard at Woodchester.

We wish you all good luck next season with the use of these new products, which will be helping to reduce the immense problem of climate change caused by greenhouse gases.

Nailsworth Rotary, January 2024