B&Q criticised for continuing to use peat Martin Harper, Conservation Director of the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, was disappointed. Ministers last year convened a task force involving horticulture industry representatives to help ensure the UK meets the target of ending domestic use of garden peat by 2020. Clearly the Government understands the harm peat extraction is doing to our environment and a growing number of gardeners and gardening suppliers do too. We hope consumers will make the right choice this spring and buy only peat free compost for their gardens. Friends of the Earth were also disappointed. B&Q insisted that they are working hard to reduce peat. The chain has increased the use of peat alternatives from 56.3 per cent to 61 per cent this year and increased sales of peat-free products by 103 per cent already. A spokesman pointed out that peat is much lighter than other materials for top soil. It therefore means less packaging is used and less fuel in transporting sacks, reducing the carbon footprint of the product. Our topsoil does contain a percentage of peat and we are completely transparent about that on the packaging. Adding peat in this instance makes the product lighter while maintaining product performance.