§ Mr. Harry GreenwayTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to encourage the use of recycled organic material instead of peat in tree planting programmes; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. YeoMy Department has funded research by the Forestry Commission into good practices in amenity tree planting; and has supported publication of the resulting advice. Some of this work has indicated that thorough site preparation and post-planting care are often of greater importance for successful tree planting than the use of organic matter of whatever origin, including peat. The Forestry Commission has recently published a manual of good practice for the use of sewage sludge in forestry.