For information: presentations from the conference held at Stockbridge Technology Centre.

http://www.stockbridgeonline.co.uk/late ... er-at-stc/

These presentations are well worth reading for the range of opinions expressed and the rational approach to the peat question/debate.

very interesting. I haven't had time to read all the presentations yet but it is good to see a proper rational debate on the subject rather than the uninformed hysteria which frequently accompanies any mention of peat.

We have about 1200 acres of protected peat moss just a couple of fields away from where I live and I have to admit to having removed a few bags of it over the years to assist with growing some acid loving plants. I do hope this doesn't bring the wrath of the greenies down on me.

Good morning Alan,
I am very grateful to you for posting the website. After all the months of rubbish we endured on this forum it was great to see how responsible the peat producers actually are.
I would imagine most of this information was sent to DEFRA who produced their White Paper before the consultation period was over to me is an absolute disgraceful state of affairs.
I suspect those in DEFRA dealing with the phasing-out of Peat were not prepared to listen to anybody so the consultation was intended to be a politically correct ploy and never a consultation in any sense of the word.
In their White Paper the much discussed and never explained statistics were portrayed as assumptions. I would suggest that DEFRA could not explain the statistics because they simply were fictitious figures and not in the slightest or remotely true.
So this whole sorry saga comes down to a few wild assumptions.Those responsible should be dismissed from their posts. They have cost the horticultural trades many many thousand of pounds based on a few assumptions.
That is a public disgrace.
JB.