The Gardener Ben Podcast is all about the topic of peat this week. I had the absolute pleasure of talking to @sally.nex from @peatfreepartnership a few weeks ago about this all-important topic, which has raged on in the horticultural industry for the entirety of my horticultural career.

Many of you will be shocked to read that the legal extraction and destruction of peat bogs and habitat is still allowed. And although many of you desperately try to make the correct decisions when you’re buying compost and plants, there is still a lot of hidden peat being used within the horticultural industry. This still stacks up to be a vast quantity, hidden in things like houseplants, the packaging of bulbs and tubers, as well as live herb plants purchased from supermarkets. I was also shocked to find out that peat is added to manure for the production of mushrooms, proving that you’re never too old to learn something new.

@peatfreepartnership is currently gathering signatures on a petition to present to government to bring the legal extraction of peat in the UK to an end. If this is something that is important to you as a gardener or environmentalist, please follow the link and make sure that you sign the petition and share it with all of your online friends and followers.

Next week on the Gardener Ben Podcast, I’m joined by Philip Harkness of @harknessroses1879, chatting about many different topics, including, obviously, roses — so tune in next week.

The Gardener Ben Podcast is brought to you in association with @peterbealesroses, winner of 30 Chelsea Gold Medals and creating timeless roses since 1968. Make sure that you’re following along on Instagram and TikTok.

The Gardener Ben Podcast is edited by @mark_hamilton_anderson.

Until next week, happy gardening.

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