Peat and its sustainability
Last post 11-11-2005 8:11 AM by ken69. 3 replies.
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02/11/2005 11:47 AM
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I am always disappointed and irritated with Peter Seabrooks'' attitude towards peat and this arose yet again during the discussion on ''Gardening as a threat to the natural world''. To quote ''Peter Seabrook condemned the moves against using peat, singling out the National Trust, and insisting ''peat is a perfect renewable source''. No one really seems to point out the faults in his arguments. Peat bogs are, yes, just as Peter suggests in a recent article in the ''Garden'' a very simple ecosystem, but he misses the point that it is one of the most fragile. For a peat bog to ''recover'' if that is the right word, it will take 1000's of years and with the phenomenon of global warming, where peat bogs need cool, wet oceanic atlantic climates, it is highly unlikely that they will ever reform as nature intended. Sustainable? they are certainly not and I don't know where Peter gets this idea from. Is Peter's commerial involvement in peat companies something to do with his most unfortunate attitude towards peat?
William Elfyn
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03/11/2005 04:40 PM
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- ken69
- Norfolk UK
- 23 Nov 2004
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405
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Hi William...hadn't realised he was so pro peat, makes sense if he's paid. Always thought Breckland (norfolk) light soil would make ideal potting compost once sterilised. If fact any light soil that has gone thru an oxygenating process via a sieve would work just as well.
I have done this on a small scale by riddling and baking then leave it for a year .
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10/11/2005 08:13 PM
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- ndhort
- 06 Aug 2004
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37
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Of the huge amount of peat that is harvested every year world-wide what percentage is sold on for horticultural use?
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11/11/2005 08:11 AM
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- ken69
- Norfolk UK
- 23 Nov 2004
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405
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A quick google.....http://www.peatlandsni.gov.uk/history/
will read it after breakfast.
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