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National Trust urged: Go Peat Free
6 November 1999
The move, which has the backing of the NT council, will be a tremendous boost for wildlife campaigners who have been campaigning for years to stop the destruction of the nation's peat bogs. Peat bogs form some of the most precious wildlife habitats in the UK. Despite this numerous bogs, including 18 Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs), are under threat from commercial peat extraction.
The NT vote will put further pressure on the Government to act on this issue. In opposition Labour promised that unless the peat industry put its own house in order it would act to protect the sites. And earlier this year Environment Minister Michael Meacher told Radio 4's File on Four that “I'm very dissatisfied with the position as it is now. Frankly I'm appalled at the degree of destruction on these sites...There is no question that it [Scotts/Levingtons -the largest peat extractor in the UK] is doing hideous damage to the environment.”Unfortunately the Government has so far failed to take any action.
Craig Bennett, Wildlife Campaigner at Friends of the Earth said:
“NT members should back this resolution. If the NT, custodian of the most prized gardens in the country, can go peat free then so can anyone. Our lowland raised peat bogs are being dug up, wrapped in plastic, and flogged off cheap to British gardeners, so that an American multinational can make huge profits. Some of the UK's finest wildlife habitats are being destroyed in the process. It's about time the Government took firm action and stopped this rape of our countryside”.
Caroline Flint MP said:
“I strongly welcome the resolution calling on the National Trust to go peat-free and would urge all NT members to support it. If gardeners could only see the devastation that the peat industry is causing to wildlife habitats in my constituency I am convinced they would never use peat again.”
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Published by Friends of the Earth Trust
Last modified: Jul 2008
