A Somerset MP is seeking to speed up a proposed pan on peat farming, arguing that current practices “simply cannot continue”.

Peatlands cover around ten per cent of the UK’s land area and are the country’s largest carbon store, playing a key role in battling climate change as well as providing valuable wildlife habitats.

The previous Conservative government introduced a retail ban on peat in 2022 (which comes into effect at the end of the current year) and indicated that it would ban horticultural sales of peat by 2030.

But Sarah Dyke, the Liberal Democrat MP for Glastonbury and Somerton, is seeking to introduce a new bill to speed up this ban, prohibiting all sales by the end of 2025.

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Almost three million hectares (more than 740,000 acres) of UK land are peatlands, with the Somerset Levels and Moors includes England’s second largest area of lowland deep peat, containing almost 11 million tonnes of carbon.

However, 80 per cent of peatlands are damaged, often from peat harvesting for horticulture purposes – with this use being a key factor of peat decline in Somerset.

While the previous government’s aim to ban sales by 2030 was welcomed by the horticultural trade, it was criticised by environmentalists who believed the ban should come into effect much sooner.]

To this end, Ms Dyke will introduce the Horticultural Peat (Prohibition of Sale) Bill in the House of Commons on November 6, using the ten minute rule – meaning that if no MPs object, the bill will be taken forward and stands a much bigger chance of becoming law.

Ms Dyke said: “Both for the future of the planet, and our path to net zero, the destruction of irreplaceable peatlands simply cannot continue.

I’m pleased to be bringing this bill before parliament, as it’s of critical importance environmentally as well as a pressing issue in the horticultural trade.

“Peat must stay in the ground and our precious peatlands must be protected, that’s really the heart of the matter.

“While I am a huge supporter of the horticulture industry and sympathetic that the transition to peat-free will present some challenges, it is the right thing to do for the environment to legislate a full ban as quickly as possible.

“We have known from Defra for a long time that a full ban will come. Continuing in a state of uncertainty, while losing more of our precious peat bogs, is arguably far more damaging to the industry, our planet and our futures.

“Accelerating the timeframe – which this bill would do – is not only the right thing to do environmentally but gets rid of damaging uncertainty in the horticulture industry and is supported by both the public and the industry.”

The Lib Dems were the only party to include a ban on peat sales in their general election manifesto – with Ms Dyke devoting much of her campaign towards representing the interests of Somerset’s farmers.

She said: “We Lib Dems are passionate environmentalists. We know that nature-based solutions – including the preservation of our three million hectares of peatlands which are globally significant in climate regulation – is the right thing to do.

“This bill’s success would mean a huge step in the right direction toward that restorative goal.”