Gardeners are being appealed to opt for peat-free composts as the Government wants to phase out wipe out peat-based composts for sale in garden centers by 2020.

The Environment Secretary Hilary Benn paid a visit to the Royal Botanic Gardens Kew to introduce the newest part of the Act on CO2 Peat Campaign that urges retailer to sell peat-free composts.

Peat extraction puts an irreplaceable natural habitat bog under threat. As per a study, just 6 per cent of the UK's peat bogs are in a healthy condition.

About half a million tones of CO2 is emitted per year as a result of peat extraction from the UK sites.

Amateur gardeners buy around 70 per cent of the peat-composts which they use in horticulture.

Wildlife groups have been pressurizing the Government to take stronger steps to make gardeners go peat-free when they buy compost.