The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) has announced a delay in its commitment to making its prestigious flower shows completely peat-free, citing a “legislative black hole” and a lack of government action on the issue.
The horticultural charity had pledged in 2021 to eliminate peat use across all its operations, including ensuring that all plants at its events were grown without peat, by the end of 2025. However, organisers of the Chelsea Flower Show and other RHS events now say they will be making “concessions” for growers struggling to make the transition.
New timeline for peat-free transition
From 2026, 40% of nurseries exhibiting in the floral marquee at RHS shows will still be allowed to sell “peat starter plants” – plants that initially began life in a small plug containing peat but were later grown on using peat-free methods. This concession will remain in place until 2028, allowing nurseries additional time to fully adapt.
The RHS has blamed a lack of government legislation banning peat, uncertainty over what qualifies as “peat-free,” and the complexity of global supply chains as key reasons for the delay. Many young plants used in the UK’s horticultural industry are grown abroad in peat before being imported, making a complete shift to peat-free gardening particularly challenging.
Environmental concerns and industry challenges
Environmental campaigners have long called for an outright ban on the sale of peat for horticultural use, arguing that it is essential for restoring the UK’s peatlands. These landscapes play a vital role in carbon storage, providing habitats for rare wildlife, improving water quality, and helping prevent flooding. The RHS itself has supported these calls and invested £2.5 million into research on peat-free alternatives.
Despite the RHS’s commitment, the absence of government legislation has left many growers uncertain about the future. The previous government had pledged to ban the sale of peat for private gardens and allotments by 2024, but this has not yet been enacted. The Labour government has since stated that it is still considering the next steps.
RHS Director General Clare Matterson said that while the horticultural industry has made significant progress in reducing peat use, the charity cannot lead the transition alone.
“Every decision we make is about growing an environmentally sustainable industry and maintaining our position as a world leader in peat-free horticulture.
However, without any government legislation on banning peat, it’s not a level playing field for growers leading the charge, and the RHS as a charity can’t steer this ship alone.”
She also highlighted the disparity between UK growers working to phase out peat and the continued importation of young plants grown in peat from abroad.
“We’re an island here with no legislation on peat, little funding for research or knowledge transfer, and not enough support for our voluntary peat-free ambitions.
We need the government to step in and see UK horticulture continue to lead the way in transitioning to become peat-free.”
New definitions for peat-free gardening
To address the confusion over what constitutes a peat-free plant, the RHS has introduced a set of classifications:
- “No new peat plants” – These are plants that have been grown entirely without peat or are older plants containing peat extracted before the end of 2025.
- “Peat starter plants” – These plants began life in peat but were later grown in peat-free conditions.
- “Peat plants” – Plants grown entirely in peat after the end of 2025.
From 2026, all RHS show gardens, judged floral displays, and trade stands must only feature “no new peat plants.” Additionally, the RHS President’s Award at the Chelsea Flower Show will be restricted to nurseries that have fully transitioned to this standard.
Calls for government action
The delay in the RHS’s peat-free commitment has intensified calls for the government to introduce clear and enforceable legislation on peat.
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Matt Browne, Head of Public Affairs at The Wildlife Trusts, criticised the government’s inaction, stating:
“It is high time that ministers step up to the plate and act to deliver long-promised legislation to finally ban the sale of horticultural peat.
There is both the technology and the means to grow completely peat-free, like the plants we have sourced for our garden at RHS Chelsea, so there is no excuse for delay.
The RHS and the gardening community are leading the way, ministers now need to follow with a legal ban to give certainty to all and ensure that across the country, precious peat stays in bogs, not bags.”
In response, a spokesperson for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) reiterated the government’s commitment to protecting peatlands but stopped short of confirming any immediate action.
“We are committed to protecting our nature-rich habitats – that’s why we’re investing £400 million for tree planting and peatland restoration.
We are also looking at the next steps for measures to ban horticultural peat.”
Future of peat-free gardening
While many nurseries have already made the transition to peat-free production, others continue to face challenges due to supply chain constraints and financial pressures. The RHS’s revised timeline aims to support those still working towards change while keeping peat reduction at the forefront of UK horticulture.
Despite setbacks, the move towards a peat-free gardening industry remains a priority for environmental groups, horticulturalists, and policymakers alike. Whether the government takes decisive action in the coming months will be crucial in determining the pace of this transition.
