The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) has set up a fund to help green-fingered enthusiasts and gardening professionals alike increase their adoption of sustainable growing practices.
Some £100,000 will be made available over the coming two years, which will be offered to those who commit to using sustainable growing media in place of peat.
It is hoped that RHS Britain in Bloom and It's Your Neighbourhood groups alike will make the switch to peat-reduced and peat-free alternatives, as this can protect the valuable habitats, biodiversity and wildlife of the country.
Environment minister Richard Benyon asserted that peatlands are increasingly rare habitats – and as such they need to be protected.
"Gardeners can help preserve our peatlands by buying sustainable alternatives to peat such as wood fibre, green compost and composted bark," he remarked.
RHS principal scientist Paul Alexander said he hopes the fund will encourage more widespread used of "growing media that has less and ultimately no peat".