Continuation of peat extraction at Chat Moss refused

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alan refail
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Hi NB

If you keep an eye on my compost trial #2 (comparing Clover peat, Vital Earth and own compost) you will find that the one I will not be using again will be my own compost. Details and pictures in the coming days.
I realise this is only one person and one compost and I certainly would not use my experience to suggest that noone should use their own produced compost. Equally, I would suggest that your success is no reason to propose it as a magic formula for others.

For those who cannot make enough compost mix the compost you have made with some of the best peat free and hey presto you have improved its quality and water retention.


"Hey presto" is just too easy to say! People need to try for themselves.
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alan refail
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One of the things which could contribute to this thread is John Walker's link to his trials of a range of peat-free composts.
Well worth a look for anyone seriously interested in the alternatives to peat.

Here's the link:
http://www.organicinthegarden.com/forum ... v.html#new
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Alan, I have friends who are enthusiastic about the methods I describe having tried it themselves as John Walker has obviously done, actually I find using this method releases more gardening time for making compost as no digging and less weeding are required. I must admit I make compost enthusiastically and a wide variety of stuff is layered into it, what do you imagine really good soil is made of if not decayed organic matter? In my view the more variety of stuff goes into the heap the better it gets. Inferring that I am not doing other gardeners a favour by being this enthusiastic about these methods is not helpful to the harmony on this forum. I am not saying more traditional methods are wrong, I used to garden that way myself, however I kept an open mind and found synergistic methods suit my garden, save me work and produce results that I am happy with. It's simply a personal choice and why should I allow others to dampen my enthusiasm?
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alan refail
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Hey, come on Babe, chill out!

I was merely saying that to suggest that all that is needed is a quick mix of home compost and "some of the best peat free" and a "Hey presto" is irresponsible advice. Just as it would be irresponsible of me to advise against home compost because of its poor performance for me. You have frequently said that you do not buy any compost, so you are probably blissfully unaware of the wide variation in peat-free composts. Which would you suggest as the best?

What do you imagine really good soil is made of if not decayed organic matter?


Now that's just downright patronising!
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Johnboy
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Hi Alan,
The trouble with the peat-free composts is their inconsistency. What is good however is the compost that I make from pulverized straw and comfrey and this being only the two ingredients is consistent and this year I have been doing an experiment using straw cut up using a rotary mower which end up about an inch to an inch and a half long.
I have started by almost filling a 3ftx3ftx3ft bin with the chopped straw and the ultimate idea is to make a soil improver rather than a compost by gradually composting comfrey over the top. Use too much comfrey and you end up with a soggy mess that has run out the bottom of the bin but by introducing comfrey on an almost weekly and allowing this to compost before adding the next, which takes really no time at all and the bin has now dropped to about 1.5ftx3ftx3ft and I am going to add some more chopped straw and start the process again on top of what is already there. I am going to have to depend on others to complete the cycle because I will be away shortly for a considerable time.
Next year I will incorporate this in part of a bed divided into two plots and I will grow the same things in both plots and compare the results.
I shall by then have acquired some New Horizon peat free m/p compost and everything will be totally peat free. In another bed I will grow things as I normally do and make a further comparison.
I should by then also have worked out how to get Photo's onto the screen! So far this has alluded me.
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JB i could do with a guide on how to get photos on screen too, for when I get my new camera the last one was stolen unfortunately and my freezer has packed up so I need to get another freezer before a new camera.
Are you going to trial your home made compost, it sounds good, comfrey and chicken straw are included in my compost too, also seaweed, fish trimmings from our local fishmonger always covered with a layer of soil and it disappears without any problems, then non seeding weeds banana slins, veg peelings etc, coffee grounds, egg and prawn shells, etc etc.
I am considering adding a sprinkling of mineral rich rock dust too as I read somewhere that it's a compost activator, I would be interested to know how it works as an activator if you have any knowledge on this? I like to understand the process. :) Edited to add the link where I read that.

http://www.binsforcompost.com/compostactivator.htm
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JB & NB, there is already a guide, funnily enough in the Website Help area, here is a direct link Photo posting Guide
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Nature's Babe
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Thank you Peter. :D
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alan refail
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peter wrote:JB & NB, there is already a guide, funnily enough in the Website Help area, here is a direct link Photo posting Guide



I have added a step-by-step guide at the end of that thread. No need any more to go via Photobucket or similar.
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alan refail
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I understand that William Sinclair have lodged a formal appeal against Salford's decision with the Planning Inspectorate.
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Johnboy
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Hi Alan,
From what I gather Salford Council had had the request for a considerable time and to amongst other things say that there was insufficient information means that Salford Council had failed to consult with Wm Sinclair.
Wm Sinclair have a very good chance of having the decision overturned.
Good luck to them!
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John Walker
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For anyone interested, here is a round-up of links to news stories following the Chat Moss decision:

Salford Council finally sees sense after 50 years!
The Salford Star with a piece giving some historical background on the long-running campaign to end peat extraction at Chat Moss.
http://www.salfordstar.com/article.asp?id=1020

Salford Chat Moss peat extraction refused
From BBC News Manchester
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-ma ... r-13984089

Chat Moss peat extraction ban for William Sinclair Ltd
From Manchester Evening News Business (coverage of the planning meeting)
http://menmedia.co.uk/manchesterevening ... clair-ltd-

And Barbara welcomes decision to stop peat extraction at Chat Moss
Comment from Barbara Keeley, MP for Worsley and Eccles South
http://www.barbarakeeley.co.uk/barbara- ... 2011-07-01
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alan refail
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Seems to have attracted very limited local media interest. I have seen no mention of it nationally.
Nature's Babe
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It's usually the bad news that gets into the nationals Alan, not the good news. :wink:
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alan refail
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Sinclair's appeal against refusal of planning permission is to be heard in March.

Chat Moss. This is Sinclair’s second major UK peat site. Sinclair completed
harvesting all land for which it had planning permission during the course of 2011. An
application to expand the harvesting area has been turned down. Sinclair is appealing
the decision to the Secretary of State for the Environment. The appeal will be heard in
March 2012, but the decision is unlikely to be announced in time to permit harvesting
to take place in the current summer season, even if Sinclair wins.
Sinclair has peat reserves in Scotland that are large enough to replace the Bolton Fell
and Chat Moss deposits, certainly in the short term. The Scottish deposits have full
planning consent and can be started at short notice. They will, however, have a higher
total cost, both for extraction (each individual site lacks economies of scale) and for
transport (both are further from the major consumer markets in the South-East of
England).



http://www.hardmanandco.com/Research/Si ... an2012.pdf
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