The RHS (Royal Horticultural Society) releases its list of 100% peat-free nurseries and growers, after surveying hundreds of nurseries and growers across the UK.

The survey provides a baseline from which to measure the horticultural industry’s progress towards being peat-free, and is designed to increase access to peat-free plants.

Almost a third of 427 respondents are growing peat-free across all plant ranges,(with the exception of young or plug plants), and a further 17% now verified as being 100% peat free across all operations.

Close to 100 growers, including several of the largest businesses in the horticulture industry were found to be at least 80% peat-free.

“Our survey provides a snapshot of the industry at this point in time and highlights the gathering momentum and desire for change within much of the sector, with many only using peat for more difficult areas to transition to, such as very young plug plants, which are often brought in from Europe, and ericaceous, or acid-loving, plants”, says Alistair Griffiths, director of science at the RHS.

The survey was carried out as part of a 2022 research fellowship co-funded by the RHS to accelerate the transition to peat-free with Defra.

The full list of peat-free nurseries and growers can be found here.