Hertfordshire, UK -he Horticultural Trades Association (HTA) and the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) achieved a significant milestone in sustainable horticulture by hosting the inaugural peat-free workshop, as part of the RHS Transition to Peat-Free Fellowship. Held on Thursday, September 14 in Hertfordshire, the workshop served as a platform for growers and industry experts to exchange knowledge and explore the latest insights and trials related to peat-free plant production.
Titled ‘Practical Management of Peat-Free Growing Media,’ the workshop emphasized the critical role of quality control, monitoring, and active management of peat-free growing media to achieve optimal results. Participants gained valuable insights into the performance of various peat-free growing media across a spectrum of plant species, drawing from the RHS Transition to Peat-Free Fellowship. Additionally, they had the opportunity to learn how fellow growers had approached their own trials and discover techniques for initiating technical crop monitoring to manage media performance and prevent nutritional deficiencies.
The event featured presentations from Dr. Gracie Barrett at The Farplants Group, Dr. Neil Bragg of Bulrush, and Andrew Wilson from ICL, in addition to insights from RHS Fellow Dr. Raghavendra Prasad. The day concluded with a visit to Allensmore Nurseries, providing participants with an up-close look at the RHS trials conducted there, along with the nursery’s independent trials and peat-free commercial crops.
Wayne Brough, Technical Horticulture Manager at the HTA, expressed the joint commitment to sustainability through this partnership, highlighting the active involvement of members in the RHS Transition to Peat-Free Fellowship’s peat-free trials. He commended the ongoing efforts of UK suppliers, growers, and retailers in embracing peat-free practices, citing a significant decline in peat usage. In 2022, peat constituted just 24% of the total volume of growing media, compared to 36% in 2021, signaling a positive trend. Despite numerous successes, challenges remain, including the need for additional support for businesses transitioning to peat-free practices.
Dr. Raghavendra Prasad, RHS Peat-Free Fellow, emphasized the importance of collaboration with the industry and government to achieve peat-free horticulture. He expressed delight in hosting the inaugural workshop, which marks the beginning of a series aimed at providing growers with the latest information and technical expertise to facilitate their transition to peat-free practices. The RHS is committed to sharing knowledge and success stories while encouraging horticultural businesses to conduct their own trials in commercial settings. Presentations and key takeaways from the workshop will be made available to benefit all growers, with plans for future regional workshops in the pipeline.
The HTA continues its support for growers through regular Grower Technical Workshops and upcoming events such as the National Conference scheduled for next month (October 5).
On November 20, the RHS will host a ‘Transition to Peat-Free and Sustainable Practices’ event at Lindley Hall, Vincent Square, London. The event will bring together industry experts and members of the RHS Transition to Peat Free Fellowship to share information and technical support with growers from all sectors of horticulture. Technical workshops will be conducted by growers, manufacturers, suppliers, and industry experts, and trade stands will showcase sustainable horticultural practices, including growing media, biological controls, sustainable packaging, irrigation, fertilizers, and plug plant suppliers.