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Biodiversity and Gardening - Peat and Compost

Peat and Compost

For peat's sake - don't use peat

Peat grows naturally in a living bog. Plants living on the surface particularly sphagnum mosses, acidify the rainwater and pickle the other plant remains. Therefore, instead of rotting to form soil the plant remains form peat.

Raised peat bog is one of Europe's most rare and threatened habitats. In the UK only a fragment of near natural bog remains, with over 94% damaged or destroyed. Wrexham County Borough holds part of Britain's third largest raised bog, namely Fenns, Whixall, Bettisfield, Wem and Cadney Mosses which is now protected as a Site of Special Scientific Interest. The site is home to many important bird species such as curlew, lapwing, nightjar and hobby, thousands of rare insects such as the large heath butterfly,white faced darter dragonfly, bog bush cricket and the argent and sable moth and a wealth of unusual plants including bog rosemary and sundews. Extensive areas of these mosses are currently being restored after part of the site had been drained ready for peat extraction. To extract peat the bog is drained and the surface stripped of vegetation killing the bog, and stopping the process of peat formation.

Amateur gardeners account for around 70% of peat used in horticulture, which is a major threat to the remaining peat bogs. While the majority of British peat bogs are now protected, peat is being imported from Eastern Europe, thus destroying their bogs and wildlife.

By using peat-free products, you can garden for wildlife and help to save peat bogs. Famous gardens such as Highgrove, The Natural History Museum and Cabinet Office do not use any peat or chemicals in their Wildlife gardens. Nearer to hand Erddig Gardens as part of National Trust policy are now peat free.

Making Compost

Garden compost is a rich and fertile substance ideal for 'boosting blooms'. Compost can be surprisingly easy to make: just gather uncooked kitchen waste, clippings and cuttings from the garden into a heap, newspaper and cardboard can also be used. A compost bin is not essential but it is tidier and easier to manage and is particularly suitable for a small garden. If large amounts of compost are needed, then heaps can be built as large as required. Compost heaps can be "hot" or "cold". Hot heaps have all the material added to them at once and can be ready to use in a few months. Cold heaps have the material added when it is available so don't build up the heat to rot so quickly.