Archived press release

US Megacorp Takes the Peat out of UK Government

25 August 2001

Big business is “taking the peat out of the UK Government and laughing all the way to the bank”, according to Friends of the Earth. It is exactly one year to the day since Mr Prescott trumpeted “Major new steps to protect England's wildlife”, but campaigners have accused the US based Scotts Company of 'filibustering' over proposals to protect peatbogs, so that they can make a “last-gasp mega-grab” of peat, while tying the Government up in lengthy negotiations.Local campaigners will today be holding a mass demonstration on Hatfield Moor in South Yorkshire, to protest over the continued wildlife destruction, which is “now worse than ever”.

Last August, Mr Prescott announced proposals to designate the UK's finest lowland raised peatbogs as Special Areas of Conservation (or 'SACs') under the European Habitats Directive[1]. Thorne Moor and Hatfield Moor in South Yorkshire, and Wedholme Flow in Cumbria were all suffering from industrial scale peat extraction by The Scotts Company (makers of “Miracle-Gro” compost). Mr Prescott's proposals were warmly welcomed by conservationists, because the extra level of protection should mean an end to damaging peat cutting on these sites.

But The Scotts Company is experienced at using delaying tactics to slow down legal proceedings. In 1990, the US Government filed a suit against the mega-corporation seeking a permanent injunction against peat extraction at a site in New Jersey. The company's lawyers have held the suit in “administrative suspension” for over ten years.

Now it seems they are using the same methods here. In a letter sent to conservation organisations last year, English Nature (the Government's conservation advisor) stated that they wanted to confirm the new designations (to Brussels) by October 2000. But one year on,English Nature is yet to confirm their advice even to the new Department of Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), and there is nothing to stop Scotts taking as much peat as they can in the mean time.

Meanwhile, public anger over the peat issue has grown tremendously. Earlier this year, a poll by BBC Gardeners World Magazine found that 74% of gardeners wanted a complete peat ban.

In April, B&Q sent shockwaves through the industry by announcing their plans to become completely peat-free. And thousands of Friends of the Earth supporters have logged onto to FOE's spoof website this summer,(at www.miracle-gone.co.uk ) and sent protest emails direct to the Chief Executives of those companies, like Homebase and Wyevale Country Gardens,that have been stocking The Scotts Company's Miracle-Gro compost.

As a result, it is now clear that other major retailers will soon be following in B&Q's footsteps.In letters sent to FOE supporters, Homebase has stated that “...peat does not have a long-term future within our business” and that they will be making “...a full announcement concerning our future policy by the end of September."

The Focus DIY chain has similarly stated that “Hopefully, in due course, we will be able to phase out peat altogether”.

But the Government has been much slower to achieve progress on the issue and, back on the moors, the destruction continues.

Helen Kirk, a local campaigner who has lived next to Hatfield Moor all her life said:

“I can't believe that this corporate carnage is still going on in my corner of Yorkshire, one year to the day that John Prescott trumpeted 'Major steps to protect England's wildlife'.The devastation this summer has been worse than ever. Doesn't the Government realise that time is of the essence? Every extra day sees yet more of this previous wildlife site ending up in plastic bags, just so that a massive US corporation can make even bigger profits.”

Craig Bennett, Corporates Campaigner at Friends of the Earth said:

“It's scandalous that this mega-US-corporation is still being allowed to wreck our precious peat bogs. No wonder local people are so angry. A year ago we welcomed Mr Prescott's proposals to protect these sites. But how much longer will it take for the Government to finally put British wildlife, and local people before the interests of US big business?”

Editors Notes

[1] See http://www.press.dtlr.gov.uk/ for the Government's press release from last year.

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Published by Friends of the Earth Trust