§ Mr. Paul MarsdenTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps he is taking to phase out the use of peat compost in gardens(a) owned and (b) tended by his Department; and if he will make a statement. [110728]
§ Mr. Alan HowarthThe gardens owned by or in the care of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport are managed and tended by more than one body. The steps taken to phase out the use of peat compost by each of those bodies are as follows:
- (i) Historic Royal Palaces, which manages the unoccupied Historic Royal Palaces, no longer uses peat to condition soil for planting. However, it does use a moss peat based compost for growing plants in its nursery at Hampton Court Palace. It has carried out trials of non-peat based products but has found them unsatisfactory in terms of both performance and cost. HRP will continue to try alternatives to peat based products in the nursery, and should something be found that performs well and is affordable, it will continue to use it.
- (ii) The Royal Household, which manages the occupied Royal Palaces, has been using peat-free compost since August 1999 and will continue to do so.
- (iii) The Royal Parks Agency, which manages the eight Royal Parks, avoids using peat compost in the Royal Parks unless there is no effective, horticultural alternative to doing so.
- (iv) English Heritage, which manages properties in the care of the Secretary of State, seeks to avoid the use of peat wherever possible, and encourages its gardening staff to use peat alternatives.