Peatland Restoration

Lord Vaux of Harrowden Excerpts

Thursday 12th March 2026 Lords Chamber

[Lord Katz (Lab)]

The noble Baroness is absolutely right that this is a very important issue. I am sure that she has read in detail our environmental improvement plan that was published at the end of last year. This was set out as one of our key actions on peatland and peatland restoration. The Government are committed to protecting these nature-rich habitats, including peat bogs, and we plan to legislate for a ban on the sale of peat and peat container products when parliamentary time allows. I am afraid that I am not going to predict what will be in any forthcoming King’s Speech, but this is a priority for this Government.

[Lord Vaux of Harrowden (CB)]

My Lords, I declare my interest as a trustee of the Galloway Fisheries Trust and chairman of the Fleet District Salmon Fishery Board. The single biggest cause of peatland destruction has been the historic indiscriminate planting of non-native conifers on peatlands. About 18% of UK peatland has been destroyed in that way. While new planting on deep peat is rightly no longer allowed, the position of replanting after felling is not so clear. Can the noble Lord assure me that replanting of conifer woodland on peatland will not be allowed and that the peatland will be restored after felling?

[Lord Katz (Lab)]

The noble Lord is absolutely right about the action that has been taken in previous years that has degraded our peatland, including, as he said, the planting of conifers. I will have to write to him on some of the detail on that, but I want to be clear that we see the importance of restoring peatland to its natural state. That way we create a virtuous circle—wet peatlands that are both good for water management but also good for climate change.