“Never use peat-based compost”

…says Owen Wells, Chair of Friends of Ilkley Moor and local councillor.

Climate Action Ilkley is launching a campaign to make Ilkley a peat free zone by 2021…except for the moor of course.
Not only because peat bogs store enormous amounts of carbon but they are a unique and rapidly shrinking habitat.

Bradford Council Parks department are peat free as are many national organisations like RSPB, National Trust and RHS.
Now it’s up to us as individuals to only buy peat-free compost.

Buyers’ Guide

One of our members, Anne Eady, is spearheading the campaign and she and other campaigners have produced a very useful guide to buying peat-free compost locally.
It rates the best brands and tells you where to buy it locally.  You can view or download it here Peat-free composts buyers’ guide FINAL 280121
Do pass it on to your friends.  (For a more detailed and complete list click here CAI peat-free compost table FULLVERSION8thFeb    )

She has also written an informative and fact based report to support the campaign which you can read  here CAI campaign for a peat-free Ilkley

More Questions?

If you are a keen gardener you will want to delve into the Peat-Fee Compost FAQs
They answer questions from “What is peat?” to “Can peat-free compost be used as mulch?”

What can I do?

There are numerous ways to help:
1. Only buy peat-free compost and potted plants.  For local availability see Buyers’ Guide above
2. Spread the word. Encourage your friends and family to go peat-free.
3. Tell shops and garden centres which don’t sell peat-free compost that you wish to buy some.
4. If you can add to Anne’s peat-free summary table let us know via PeatFreeFeedback

…and 6 more things you can do  – see Anne’s report

Please share you experience of finding and using peat-free compost with our readers.

Go to PeatFreeFeedback

A number of local retailers now sell peat-free compost, although some of them may not stock compost all year round.  For a longer list see Q6 in Peat FAQs.  The very local ones include:-