The Horticultural Trades Association (HTA) is imploring the UK government to give in-depth consideration to the UK’s growers when discussing the ban on peat.

Parliament met on Tuesday 16 April to discuss the prohibition of the sale of peat products, whereby Theresea Villiers MP put forward a Ten-Minute Rule Motion.

Fran Barnes, chief executive of the HTA says the association and wider environmental horticulture sector have been “working incredibly hard to transition award peat use.”

“At current reduction rates, with an estimated 10% or less of peat in bags of compost in 2023, the sector is already heading close to zero by the end of this year. This decrease is attributed to the collaborative efforts of UK suppliers, retailers and gardeners to adopt peat-free practices.”

Barnes goes on to say with the above in mind, the HTA find it “curious” that parliamentary time was given to something “already happening.”

“The industry is on track to phase out peat use in bags of compost in retail settings without the need for legislation.”

In the HTA’s response to the decision, he urges the MPs to give in-depth consideration to the UK’s tree and plant growers “and allow them the time and grant support for trials, equipment and analysis towards 2030 deadline for peat-free growing.”

He highlights that some of the association’s grower members have already made the transition to peat-free, “while others are still on this complex journey with thousands of different plant species being propagated.”

“With the right support, we can eventually achieve this milestone; without support, there will be a significant contraction in the plants and trees that British environmental horticulture will be able to produce.”