GLASTONBURY and Somerton MP Sarah Dyke's attempts to ban the sale of peat-based compost is a “full frontal attack on British horticulture”, a Tory MP has said.

Sir Christopher Chope opposed the move brought by Liberal Democrat Ms Dyke as he described the issue of peat as a "sensitive, emotional subject".

Introducing the Horticultural Peat (Prohibition of Sale) Bill using a Ten Minute Rule motion in the Commons, Ms Dyke highlighted the environmental impact of extracting peat from boglands.

Ms Dyke said: "Somerset is one of only two counties in England where peat extraction still takes place. The Somerset Levels and Moors is the second largest area of lowland deep peat in England, containing 11 million tons of carbon.

"However, drained, deep peat is a major source of greenhouse gas emissions and, along with peat extraction, could be responsible for as much as 255,000 tons of CO2 per year."

She added: "Banning the sale of peat and protecting both our peatlands at home and abroad is crucial – I say abroad as well because we offshore most of our peatland emissions by importing about 60% of peat used in horticulture in the UK.

"Now, all major parties agree to a ban of the sale of peat, the Liberal Democrats have pledged to restore peatlands and ban the use of horticultural peat, while Labour’s 2024 manifesto promised to expand nature-rich habitats like peat bogs.

"I urge the House to support this Bill today and ensure we take the steps that would prevent releasing thousands of tons of carbon, help us move towards a circular economy, open up opportunities for British horticulture and protect precious peatlands.”

Sir Christopher said: "It won’t go unnoticed that this Bill is a full frontal attack on British horticulture and that it’s being promoted by none other than the Liberal Democrats."

The MP for Christchurch also said "we should allow the Liberal Democrats to stew in their own juice and bring forward this Bill so that it can then be criticised and will never reach the statute book."

He added: "I’ve looked up to see how easy it is to buy peat for fuel in this country and the latest information I’ve got is that you can get a pallet of 10 or so bags of peat delivered to your home for £260, and that is peat for fuel.

"It comes from exactly the same source as peat for agriculture. Why are we having a go at the use of peat in horticulture and agriculture when we could be dealing with the much larger issue of what’s happening in terms of peat being used for heating our homes?

"So, this is a sensitive, emotional subject, but we need to have some hard-headed realism around it. If you, like me, support British horticulture, then you should be very much opposing this Bill."

The Bill is listed for a second reading on January 24 2025, but it is unlikely to make further progress without Government support due to a lack of parliamentary time to debate all Private Member’s Bills.

Colin Stephens, managing director of Evergreen Garden Care, said: "Today’s reading of the Horticultural Peat (Prohibition of Sale) Bill is hugely encouraging, as banning peat would provide extensive and urgently needed environmental benefits.

"We do understand that the peat-free journey isn’t straightforward for the industry and a successful transition will take time which we fully support."