Unlocking the complexities of the peat debate by encouraging coaction of the broad range of manufacture stakeholders to produce a roadmap the removal of peat from growing media is the focus of a new taskforce , organize by the Horticultural Trades Association ( HTA ) .
It aims to invigorate attempt to undertake the government issue of peat use in gardening , with representatives from each region of the diligence producing a plan by the end of February defining a naturalistic timetable for achieving what a peat - free supplying chain and outline the barrier that need to be overtake . This work will help oneself inform Defra ’s forthcoming England Peat Strategy .
Leading grower , representatives from retail and landscaping and experts from fabrication will act alongside stakeholders include the Association of Professional Landscapers ( APL ) , National Farmers Union ( NFU ) and Royal Horticultural Society ( RHS ) , to defend each part of the sphere and prepare relevant action within this new workplan .
The complex outlet of finding suitable choice to satisfy the needs of professional growers and hobby nurseryman alike has been the focus of efforts by portion of the gardening sphere for many years , with peat - employment falling in 2020 to its lowest ever layer .
Speaking of his ambitiousness for the new radical , James Barnes , HTA Chairman , said : “ The argument around peat role is nuanced and complex and to successfully negociate a way forward we must take a more strategic overture . By working in a coordinated way with representative from the whole supply chain we will have an aligned manufacture approach to peat - use for the first meter . By the end of February , we will have a clear activeness design , objectives across the board and timescales for when we can realistically expect resultant . ”
The new formed taskforce sees each part of the industriousness represented and responsible for harness the relevant part of the job . It will center on cardinal issues include :
Jonathan Marquis , Head of Garden Centre Operations at Lovania and a phallus of the HTA ’s Ornamentals Management Committee , said : “ For agriculturist , the issue of sourcing secure quality grow medium in dependable quantities is the crux of the matter . The industry join forces to go about the problem from all counselling , with proper coordination , is a very overconfident access . ”
Mike Burks , Chairman of the GCA and Managing Director of The Gardens Group , said : “ Consumers have more of an interest than ever in the environmental impact of peat and , as retailers , we want to be able to respond with appropriate products and information . This taskforce is a literal chance for the industry to offer information and instruction alongside choice to customers . ”
Neil Bragg , Chairman of the Growing Media Association ( GMA ) , said : “ With the recent declaration from Bord na Mona support they are to stop harvest peat in Ireland , there is more urgency than ever to understand the picture around alternatives and their cost and availability . I see this grouping as the right chance the manufacture has to see the study that ’s been start begin to have an impact . ”
Dave Sewell , Chairman of the APL , said : “ As an diligence we source thousands of plant each class , so the landscaping sector has an significant role to bet in this endeavour . By invest to being a part of this taskforce , we can make a real impact in condition of influencing the wider supplying chain . ”
With the HTA coordinate a join - up approach to interacting with government , aligning policy input to policymakers , the stage is set for the whole supplying chain to spiel its part in endorse real change .
For more information : Horticultural Trades Associationwww.the-hta.org.uk
