“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.

One of our members, Anne Eady, is spearheading the campaign and she has already done a lot of work to find local sources
of peat-free compost.  You can view and download her summary chart Peat free composts summary table

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

What can I do?

There are numerous ways to help:
1. Only buy peat-free compost and potted plants. Local stores that sell peat-free compost include Booths Supermarket, Courtyard Planters and Stephen Smiths Garden Centre in Otley. All the plants sold by Courtyard Planters in Otley are grown in peat-free compost. RHS Harlow Carr in Harrogate only sells peat-free composts.
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 peatfree@climateactionilkley.org.uk

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