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Immediate Release:

NATIONAL TRUST BANS PEAT
FOE calls on Government and gardeners to take action too

Friends of the Earth has welcomed the National Trust's decision, made this weekend, to ban peat and peat-based products from all its properties and gardens. Trust members overwhelmingly backed a resolution at its annual general meeting - held in Belfast on Saturday (6 November) - calling for a ban. Friends of the Earth is now calling on the Government and gardeners to take action too.

Peat bogs form some of the nation's most precious wildlife habitats, and many are designated Sites of Special Scientific Interest. However, despite this the commercial peat industry is destroying large areas of peat bog, including SSSIs, for use on gardens.

Craig Bennett, wildlife campaigner at Friends of the Earth said:
“This is fantastic news. We congratulate the National Trust and its members on today's important decision. Hopefully gardeners around the country will take note and realise that they too can and should be gardening peat-free”.

However, it is about time the Government also took action. The Wildlife Bill, widely tipped to be in next week's Queens Speech, must contain measures to stop the devastation of our countryside from the commercial peat industry ”

The decision was also welcomed by Caroline Flint MP for Don Valley. Don Valley includes two SSSIs (Thorn and Hatfield Moors) currently being trashed by US multinational Scott/Levingtons through peat extraction.

Caroline Flint MP said:
“I am delighted that the National Trust and its members have recognised the seriousness of the situation and have moved to ban peat from its properties. This news provides a glimmer of hope for Thorne and Hatfield moors as we move into the twenty-first century.”

ENDS

Craig Bennett     0171 566 1667 (w)    07654 664 955 (p)     07712 843 215 (m)
Press Office    0171 566 1649        07712 843 209 (m)
8 November 1999

Converted by Andrew Scriven