@Johnboy To quote DEFRA, who openly admit that that their published statistics are incorrect, and them build a case against Peat digging is really outrageously foolish. You've alluded to this a few times now. Please could you give us some credible information to back it up i.e. where do DEFRA "...

Reading some of the comments on this thread has me wondering what threads others have been reading. On the contrary, I think our various peat-related threads have, bar a few blips, been pretty good examples of informative and diverse conversation and exchanges of views/questions and answers, accompa...

@Nature's Babe With Gro-sure seeds you also need to check whether the seeds (vegetable in particular) have been treated with chemical fungicide, so it's well worth taking your magnifying glass to the packet. This information is in very small print, and they are extremely unforthcoming on their web ...

@ richard p It looks like we might indeed have crossed wires - sorry for any confusion on my part. I think part of the problem is that the Somerset Levels were not mentioned on this thread until you mentioned them. I'm wondering if you've somehow inadvertantly jumped threads? However, it seems the ...

@alan refail I'm sorry if you feel admonished, I was merely trying to chivvy you along I suggested (not instructed) you might telephone the RSPB, merely as a friendly suggestion. That way you can check that they've actually got your email (you haven't indicated anywhere that you've been emailing th...

@ alan refail A nice try Alan, but there's nothing remotely 'emotive' about my comments and it's telling that this element of my last post is the only one you choose to try and pick holes in. Here's what emotive is defined as: 'Arousing or able to arouse intense feeling' My comments on Steve Yandal...

@Elle's Garden We actually had an interesting discussion on the main peat thread (http://www.kitchengarden.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=9202) about methane emissions, where it was suggested that restoring peat bogs might add to climate change by producing more methane. Dr Mark Reed added thi...

@alan refail On the matter of misleading information, the NFU is calling on Defra to rethink their approach to the peat question Don't you find it odd that the NFU came put with this statement after the consultation had ended, rather than pose these concerns last December? And there's nothing credi...

Reading the start of this thread actually explains who set up 'tweet for peat' and why they did it. It was the idea of the University of Aberdeen's Rural Economy and Land Use programme. In other words, it was instigated by trained scientists who specialise in looking at peatlands and what happens to...

Biological controls are one of the more benign and extremely useful spin-offs from commercial horticulture that have proven to be of consistent value to gardeners everywhere. No one should be misled into thinking they are only of use to commercial growers (although of course they also use them to gr...

@ richard p Of course the whole conversation around conserving peat bogs for future generations is largely centred on lowland raised bogs in England. Even a basic understanding of how peat is extracted from these natural habitats would tell you that the very first thing that happens is they are dra...

The result of the 'tweet for peat' experiment instigated by the University of Aberdeen's Rural Economy and Land Use programme is at the link below. To see the responses, click on 'comments' under each question (although it only says '1 comments' there are numerous replies in each comment posted). Cl...

At this point can I humbly suggest that, in the interests of constructive and respectful debate, it might be better to hold fire on posting further comments until Alan hears back from the RSPB and posts their clarification here for us to digest? That is after all what this thread was started for. Th...

@Peet The advice to sow later is all good and sound but I wouldn't be so defeatist and throw all your plants out just yet. If you can coax them along there's a chance they'll produce an extra-early crop of beans if you keep growing them in pots indoors and don't even attempt to plant them out in th...

It's good to know that HRH and me are on the same wavelength

What a pity he's not giving the keynote speech at the Garden Organic Gardening Conference 2011, in May.

Is anyone thinking of going?

http://www.gardenorganic.org.uk/about_u ... erence.php