Why Avoid Peat? Peat has long been used in gardening for its light texture and ability to hold water — but it comes at a huge environmental cost. Peat is not a renewable resource on human timescales. It forms over thousands of years in peat bogs, which are precious carbon stores and wildlife habitats. When we extract peat for compost: ❌ Carbon is released — adding to climate change ❌ Rare habitats are destroyed, affecting plants, birds, and insects ❌ Biodiversity declines as