HortWeek Podcast Special - The End of Peat Episode 3: The cost of trial and error

HortWeek presents The End of Peat, a new four-part podcast series that will hear from leading horticulturists and garden retailers as they navigate a transition to peat-free that is piling pressure on a sector facing stresses on all sides.

Over the four episodes, Christina Taylor explores the story of the UK peat ban, how the horticulture industry is facing up to the challenge, and how it might shape the future of the sector.

In Episode 3: The cost of trial and error, Christina explores the two particular challenges faced by UK horticultural growers.

Where peat-free might cause an amateur gardener to lose a batch of lettuce seedlings, professional growers face the loss of entire crops as many attempt to trial new, and quite alien, growing media mixes.

Professional growers tell us their stories of trial and error, what they have learned in the process and discuss the fears that some plants and specialist nurseries will be lost to the UK for good.

Series writer, producer and presenter is Christina Taylor

Listen to the other Episodes

If you have enjoyed The End of Peat, please consider rating and reviewing the series on Apple PodcastsSpotify or your podcast platform of choice.

Contributors 

(in order of appearance)

Eliot-barden-200.jpg (200×200)Darren-Everest-200.jpg (200×200)Nikki-Barker-headshot-Credit-RHS-200.jpg (200×200)
Tony Johnson - managing director of P B HorticulturalEliot Barden - aftercare, purchasing and training director at Majestic TreesDarren Everest - Darren Everest Dahias and Sweet PeasNikki Barker - RHS peat free transitition coordinator
jonathan-sheppard.jpg (200×200)Simon-blackhurst-200.jpg (200×200)michael-buck-creepers-nursery-200.jpg (200×200)Sam-Rivers.jpg (200×200)
Jonathan Sheppard - plant collection holder and grower Simon Blackhurst - chair of the Growing Media Association and horticultural consultantMichael Buck - head of horticulture at Creepers NurseriesSam Rivers - technical manager at ICL Horticulture 
Guy-Watts-Architectural-Plants-200.jpg (200×200)Sally-Drury-200.jpg (200×200)Ken-Cox-Glendoick-200.jpg (200×200)
Guy Watts - owner of Architectural PlantsAndy Bunker - owner of Alton Garden CentreSally Drury - horticulturist and technical editor at HortWeekKen Cox - managing director of Glendoick Gardens
Steve-Harper-200.jpg (200×200)Melanie-Asker-200.jpg (200×200)Steve-Carter-Fleurie-plants-200.jpg (200×200)Alistair-Griffiths.jpg (200×200)
Steve Harper - Responsible Sourcing Scheme chair and Southern Trident CEOMelanie Asker - managing director at Greenwood PlantsSteve Carter - general manager of Fleurie PlantsAlistair Griffiths - director of science, RHS

Series writer, producer, editor and presenter is Christina Taylor

Special thanks to Jonathan Sheppard for his permission to use clips from his podcast In Conversation About Peat Free with the RHS.

Editor: Matthew Appleby

Further reading, listening and useful links

Hortweek Podcast: Should we ban peat for horticulture? Plant collection holder Jonathan Sheppard and dahlia and sweet pea grower Darren Everest debate the peat ban

Explore HortWeek's unrivalled and exclusive peat and peat-free coverage

The International Peatland Society: https://peatlands.org/

RHS Peat-free Hub:- https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/peat


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