Campaigners make the case for an end to the use of peat
Environmental campaigners, along with retailers, are among those calling for stricter laws on peat
Retailers, horticultural industry businesses and nature charities have written to the Prime Minister urging a rapid end to sales of peat.
A letter with more than 100 signatories, including B&Q and the Co-op as well as major compost manufacturer Evergreen Garden Care, nurseries and plant growers, is calling on the Westminster Government to end "business uncertainty" for the sector by ending the use of peat in horticulture.
The letter organised by the Peat-free Partnership has also been signed by organisations including the National Trust, Wildlife Trusts, Plantlife and the Royal Horticultural Society, as well as individuals including campaigner and TV presenter Chris Packham.
Environmental campaigners have long called for stricter laws to restore peatlands, which are the UK's largest carbon sink.
As well as carbon capture and storage, peatlands provide habitat to some of the UK's most threatened wildlife, and also filter water and prevent flooding downstream, but draining, burning, and harvesting for compost, means only 13% are in a near-perfect state.
The previous government pledged in 2022 that the sale of peat for private gardens and allotments would be banned by 2024, but sales remain legal, which conservationists say contributes to the destruction of peatland habitats in the UK and across Europe.
A public consultation, which received 5,000 responses, found 95% of people supported the ban.
Nicola Hutchinson, director of conservation at Plantlife, which hosts the Peat-Free Partnership, said: "There is overwhelming support for the ban on the sale of peat - with major retailers, the horticultural industry, MPs, conservation charities and 95% of the public backing a fully peat-free, sustainable UK horticultural industry.
"We've been talking about this for too long. We're calling on the Government to act now.
"Let's legislate and keep peat in the ground and out of our gardens."
Joanna Gluzman, responsible business director at B&Q, said that since 2023 all of the bagged compost the DIY retailer sold has been peat free and it was working on removing peat from nursery plants.
"The environmental impact of using peat is well known and we're committed to working with our growers and to bringing them on the journey to peat-free plants with us," she said.
But she added: "Whilst we're making good progress to meet our target, we would welcome regulation to ensure progress on such an important topic is maintained so that the use of peat is fully eradicated in the future."
The partnership says legislation to end the sale of peat is needed to deliver a legal and enforceable end to peat use, as repeated voluntary targets set by previous governments were missed, and create a level playing field so peat-free companies are not undercut by cheaper peat-grown products.
It said the legislation is also needed to provide an end to imports and exports of peat to protect peatlands abroad and in the UK, and be a catalyst for more sustainable gardening.