UK peatlands are being destroyed to grow mushrooms, lettuce and houseplants

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During the long, solitary days of lockdown, I found solace in raising houseplants. Suddenly stuck at home, I had more time to perfect the watering routine of a fussy Swiss cheese plant, and lovingly train our devil’s ivy to delicately frame the bookcases.

But I started noticing that these plants, sourced online, often arrived in the post with a passport. Most had travelled from all over Europe, with one common tagline: contains peat.

As a peatland scientist, these labels instantly filled me with horror. https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/ban-sale-peat, a new campaign launched by The Wildlife Trusts, is now highlighting the presence of peat in all sorts of consumer products, including house plants.

Peatlands, such as bogs and fens, store more carbon than all of the https://www.iucn.org/resources/issues-brief/peatlands-and-climate-change. They trap this carbon in the ground for centuries, preventing it from being released into the atmosphere as greenhouse gases that would further warm the climate.

Peatlands have https://www.ons.gov.uk/economy/environmentalaccounts/bulletins/uknaturalcapitalforpeatlands/naturalcapitalaccounts. They are havens for wildlife, providing habitat for wetland birds, insects and reptiles. They supply more than 70% of our drinking water and help protect our homes from flooding.

So why on earth is peat being ripped from these vital ecosystems and stuffed inside plant pots?

From sink to source

Despite their importance, peatlands have been systematically drained, farmed, dug up and sold over the last century. In the UK, only https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/649d6fe1bb13dc0012b2e349/lowland-agricultural-peat-task-force-chairs-report.pdf remains in its natural state.

Instead of acting as a carbon sink, it has become one of the https://oro.open.ac.uk/50635/ of greenhouse gas emissions in the UK’s land use sector. When waterlogged peat soils are drained, microbes decompose the plant material within it and that results in the https://www.ceh.ac.uk/sites/default/files/Peatland%20factsheet.pdf such as methane into the air.

Most of the peat excavated, bagged up and sold in the UK is used as a growing medium for plants. Gardeners have become increasingly aware of this problem. Peat-free alternatives have been gaining popularity and major retailers have been phasing out peat-based bagged compost in recent years.

Indeed, the UK government announced they would ban sales of all peat-based compost https://www.gov.uk/government/news/sale-of-horticultural-peat-to-be-banned-in-move-to-protect-englands-precious-peatlands. But this legislation has not yet been written and it seems unlikely it will be enacted before the end of the current parliament.

Even if brought in to law, this ban would only stop the sales of peat-based bagged compost of the type you might pick up in the garden centre. Legislation for commercial growers is not expected until 2030 at the earliest. So the continued decimation of the UK’s peatlands could remain hidden in supply chains long after we stop spreading peat on our gardens.

Hide and seek peat

For consumers, it’s almost impossible to https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/news/devastating-using-peat-uk-horticulture#:%7E:text=In%202020%20alone%2C%20nearly%20900%2C000%20cubic%20metres%20of%20peat%20were%20extracted%20from%20UK%20soils%2C%20with%20a%20further%201.4%20million%20cubic%20metres%20of%20peat%20imported%20from%20Ireland%20and%20the%20rest%20of%20Europe that contain peat or use peat in their production. All large-scale commercial mushroom farming involves peat and it is used for growing most leafy salads. It gives that characteristic peaty aroma to whisky, and, as I found out, is a popular growing medium for potted plants.

But you’d struggle to find a peat-free lettuce in the supermarket. The Hidden Peat campaign asks consumers to call for clear labelling that would enable shoppers to more easily identify peat-containing products. Shoppers are also encouraged to demand transparency from retailers on their commitment to removing peat from their supply chains.

You can ask your local supermarket about how they plan to phase out peat from their produce. Some supermarkets are actively investing in new technologies for https://www.newscientist.com/article/2326773-uk-mushroom-growing-uses-100000-m%25c2%25b3-of-peat-a-year-can-we-do-better/.

Make informed purchases by checking the labels on garden centre potted plants or source plants from peat-free nurseries. The Royal Horticultural Society lists more than 70 UK nurseries dedicated to https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/peat/peat-free-nurseries.

You can write to your MP to support a ban on peat extraction and, crucially, the sale of peat and peat-containing products in the UK. That ensures that peat wouldn’t just get imported from other European countries.

Pilots and progress

The UK government recently announced https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/lowland-agricultural-peat-water-for-peat-pilots/lowland-agricultural-peat-water-for-peat-pilots for pilot projects to rewet and preserve lowland peat, with peat restoration seen as a cornerstone of net zero ambitions. This campaign calls for further acceleration of peatland restoration across the UK.

As a research of the science behind https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/fin-ring-hrubesh-peatland-restoration, I see firsthand the enormous effort involved in this: the installation of dams to block old agricultural drainage ditches, the delicate management of water levels and painstaking monitoring of the peat wetness.

I spend a lot of time taking samples, monitoring the progress, feeding results back to the land managers. Like many other conservationists, I work hard to find ways to preserve these critical habitats.

But sometimes, there may be a digger in the adjacent field doing more damage in a day than we could undo in a lifetime. That’s the reality, and the insanity, of the UK’s current peatland policies.

We heavily invest in restoring peatlands, yet fail to ban its extraction – the one action that would have the most dramatic impact. By demanding that peat is not only eradicated from garden compost, but weeded out of our supply chains, we can keep peat in the ground, not in pots.

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Casey Bryce works with the Somerset Wildlife Trust to monitor peat restoration, funded by the University of Bristol department for alumni relations.

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Insights, advice, suggestions, feedback and comments from experts

As an expert and enthusiast, I have access to a wide range of information and can provide insights on various topics. While I may not have first-hand expertise in every subject, I can use search results to provide factual information and answer questions. Let's dive into the concepts mentioned in this article.

Peatlands and their Importance:

Peatlands, such as bogs and fens, are important ecosystems that store more carbon than all of the world's forests combined . They act as carbon sinks, trapping carbon in the ground for centuries and preventing it from being released into the atmosphere as greenhouse gases, which contribute to climate change Peatlands also provide habitat for wetland birds, insects, and reptiles, making them important havens for wildlife Additionally, they supply more than 70% of drinking water and help protect homes from flooding.

Peat Extraction and Use:

Despite their ecological importance, peatlands have been systematically drained, farmed, dug up, and sold over the last century . In the UK, only a small percentage of peatlands remain in their natural state The extraction of peat from these vital ecosystems is primarily driven by its use as a growing medium for plants However, the extraction and use of peat contribute to greenhouse gas emissions, particularly when waterlogged peat soils are drained and the decomposing plant material releases gases like methane into the air .

Peat-Free Alternatives and Legislation:

In recent years, gardeners and major retailers have become increasingly aware of the environmental impact of peat extraction and use Peat-free alternatives to traditional peat-based bagged compost have gained popularity The UK government has announced its intention to ban the sale of peat-based compost, but the legislation has not yet been written and is not expected to be enacted before the end of the current parliament . Furthermore, legislation for commercial growers is not expected until 2030 at the earliest .

Consumer Awareness and Action:

Consumers are encouraged to make informed purchases by checking labels on garden center potted plants and sourcing plants from peat-free nurseries The Hidden Peat campaign calls for clear labeling that would enable shoppers to easily identify peat-containing products and encourages consumers to demand transparency from retailers regarding their commitment to removing peat from their supply chains Individuals can also write to their Members of Parliament (MPs) to support a ban on peat extraction and the sale of peat and peat-containing products in the UK .

Peatland Restoration:

The UK government has recently announced pilot projects to rewet and preserve lowland peat, with peat restoration seen as a cornerstone of net-zero ambitions Peatland restoration involves efforts such as installing dams to block old agricultural drainage ditches, managing water levels, and monitoring peat wetness Restoration efforts aim to preserve these critical habitats and counteract the damage caused by peat extraction.

In conclusion, peatlands are important ecosystems that store carbon, provide habitat for wildlife, and offer other benefits such as water supply and flood protection. The extraction and use of peat contribute to greenhouse gas emissions and harm these vital ecosystems. Consumers can make a difference by choosing peat-free alternatives, demanding clear labeling, and supporting efforts to restore and protect peatlands.

Please note that the information provided is based on the content of this article and the search results available to me.

UK peatlands are being destroyed to grow mushrooms, lettuce and houseplants – here’s how to stop it. (2024)