We share the concern of gardeners, the whole horticultural industry and government towards peat extraction and we fully support the continued search for alternative growing media

  • We will only offer peat products that only come from either non-SSSI sites or from sites owned and managed by English Nature
  • We are committed to stocking peat free composts at all our centres at competitive prices
  • We do not recommend the use of peat products for mulching or soil conditioning unless as a means of disposal of used product ie. grow bags, spent mushroom compost etc. None of our products specifically for improving soils contain peat
  • We recognise that for some plants, such as ericaceous subjects e.g. Rhododendrons, Azaleas, Camellias, Acers etc there has yet to be developed suitable alternative media
  • We are actively encouraging our suppliers of outdoor plants to reduce peat content and look towards incorporating recycled materials in their growing medium
  • Garden Organic, the national  charity for organic growing, who grow plants exclusively in organic, peat-free compost are now growing plants for our plant sales area at Ryton Gardens. As this production increases these plants will also be available at other centres
  • We are optimistic that compost manufacturers, nurseries and retailers can work together to significantly reduce the amount of peat used in horticulture in the UK

Sales of Plants Grown in Peat-Based Growing Media at Webbs, Ryton Gardens

The Organic Gardening Guidelines clearly steers gardeners to avoid the use of peat.

The use of peat as a soil improver, or in homemade or purchased growing media, is within the Guidelines red category i.e. considered as ‘never acceptable in an organic garden’. In line with Webbs commitment to operate within the Organic Gardening Guidelines, no peat based soil improvers or growing media is available from the shop at Ryton Gardens.

The only acceptable use of peat within the Guidelines is for container-grown plants and transplants that are purchased and bought into the garden. The use of these types of plants is within the amber category ie. considered as ‘acceptable, but not for regular use’. Currently, peat-based containerised plants are still considered acceptable within the Guidelines due to the lack of availability of comercially grown plants grown in peat-free and organic substrates.

It is presently very difficult for organic gardeners to source a desired range of plants, particularly perennial species, if the use of peat within container grown plants is unacceptable. We have therefore taken a practical approach for the implementation of the Organic Gardening Guidelines.

In order to offer an increased range of plants to gardeners at this time, Webbs are stocking plants at Ryton Gardens grown in peat-based media, which is allowable within the Guidelines. They will also very shortly be stocking organic, peat-free plants grown on-site at Ryton Gardens. Webbs are working very actively with their suppliers, to expand the range of peat-free plants as quickly as possible.

Andy Strachan, Head Gardener at Ryton Gardens says, ‘I have always found it almost impossible to source peat-free organic, ornamental plants. We therefore grow many of our own perennial plants for the gardens, and will now be increasing this production to supply Webbs and help increase income to the charity’.