McClaren’s Nurseries in Glasgow, Scotland, recently hosted a visit and tour for the Agriculture Minister, Jim Fairlie MSP, at a crucial time for the professional horticulture sector.
The use of peat in horticulture, which Minister Fairlie is responsible for, is a complex issue with significant consequences for the industry’s present and future outlook. The industry has used peat for decades due to its unique nutritional and moisture retention qualities and as a growing medium for flora of all kinds. Some plant types and species will not perform well without the substance.
The Scottish Government is working on a proposal to ban the sale of peat in horticulture. The Horticulture Trade Association (HTA) and its members, such as McClaren’s, have stressed the importance of engagement within the sector. Horticulture businesses crucially need time, support, and certainty to fully transition to a peat-free future.
Horticulture businesses have significantly reduced peat use in recent years, with levels now at record lows. However, concerns have been raised that an early, rather than measured, peat ban would damage Scottish businesses and their ability to produce flora. The Scottish Government has yet to publish a date for such a measure.
