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Online Talk: Digging the Dirt on Peat-free Gardening

Date
21 Feb 2024
Time
19:00 – 20:00
Free
Become a member to book your space
A close up of a gardener holding a trowel and compost

About two-thirds of bagged composts sold to gardeners contain at least some peat, and almost all plants you buy are grown in it, too. Yet digging up this precious resource destroys one of our most important carbon stores and ruins a unique habitat.

Find out why organisations like Plantlife are campaigning to keep peat in the ground where it belongs, and discover how you can still have a beautiful, productive garden without it. Sally Nex, garden writer and campaign advocate for the Peat-free Partnership, and Alison Murphy, our Peat-free Intern, are joined by special guest, garden writer and former BBC Gardeners’ World presenter Alys Fowler to dig deep into the dirtiest issue in gardening.

Speakers

 

Sally Nex – Peat-free Partnership

Sally is the Peat-free Partnership’s advocate, campaigning for an end to the sale of peat in horticulture. She’s also an award-winning garden writer and professional gardener. She’s written three books (with a fourth on the way!) on sustainable gardening, as well as articles in magazines such as BBC Gardeners’ World magazine and RHS The Garden about gardening without peat.

A headshot

Alison Murply, Peat-Free Programme

Alison is the intern for the Peat-Free Programme. She recently graduated from the University of Reading where she studied Ecology and Wildlife Conservation, and this is her first professional role in the conservation sector. She has a passion for scientific outreach and bridging the gap between the scientific community and the public. Within the Peat-Free team her primary focus is on communications and public engagement.

A headshot

Alys Fowler, Writer and Presenter

Alys Fowler is a gardener, writer and former presenter on BBC2’s Gardeners’ World. She writes mainly about growing food organically and sustainably, previously for her hugely popular column in The Guardian Weekend and now for the Wicked Leeks blog. She’s author of several books including The Thrifty Gardener, The Edible Garden, and Eat What You Grow. She’s currently working on a new book about peatlands.