911±¬ÁÏ

911±¬ÁÏ Peat-Free Workshops

A series of free workshops sharing insights from the 911±¬ÁÏ Transition to Peat-Free team and experts from across the industry

About the workshops

Welcome to the 911±¬ÁÏ peat-free workshops. Aimed at growers, these free workshops provide a forum to share knowledge and bring together industry experts to speak on various aspects of peat-free growing, along with insight from the 911±¬ÁÏ Transition to Peat-Free fellowship. These events are run by the 911±¬ÁÏ peat-free team in partnership with leading UK growers, growing media manufacturers and the Horticultural Trades Association.

Details of upcoming workshops will be published on this page. Resources from past workshops can be found here.

2025 Events

12 February 911±¬ÁÏ peat-free workshop
Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, Scotland

6 March 911±¬ÁÏ & HTA peat-free workshop
The Potters Heron Hotel and Hillier Nurseries, Hampshire



​25 November 911±¬ÁÏ Peat-Free Annual Conference
911±¬ÁÏ Garden Wisley, Surrey
Now open for booking – email below

Register for next workshop

911±¬ÁÏ Annual Peat-Free Horticulture Conference | 25 November 2025, 911±¬ÁÏ Garden Wisley

Privacy notice: Your name and email will be used by the 911±¬ÁÏ to provide you with updates related to these events and the 911±¬ÁÏ Peat-Free Project. Your personal data provided for this event will not be used for any other purposes. It will be kept for the duration of the 911±¬ÁÏ Peat-Free Project, which is up to 6 years. Please read our full  for more details on how we process personal data and how you can exercise your rights under the Data Protection Legislation.

Email us to book

The conference is free to attend, with a total of 180 places. Please fill out the details in the pre-populated email via the link above to secure yours.

Conference agenda: 25 November

09:00–09:30 Arrival, registration and refreshments 

09:30–09:35 Welcome – Clare Matterson, 911±¬ÁÏ Director General 

09:35–10:00 Guest speaker – Tim Clapp, Head of Range (Horticulture & Garden Care), Kingfisher plc

10:00–10:35 911±¬ÁÏ, Industry and Defra Transition to Peat-Free Fellowship research update – Dr Raghavendra Prasad, 911±¬ÁÏ 

10:35–11:05 PhD updates – four 911±¬ÁÏ collaborative PhDs on aspects of the peat-free transition

Trade stands open from 11:00

11:15–12:00 Breakout workshops

  1. 911±¬ÁÏ, Dr Raghavendra Prasad –​ Setting up small-scale trials
  2. Provender and ICL – Nursery management of peat-free substrates
  3. Plantworks – Thriving in peat-free: how mycorrhizal fungi and beneficial bacteria drive plant health, unlock nutrients, and bust the mushroom myth

12:00–12:45 Breakout workshops

  1. Responsible Sourcing Scheme, Steve Harper â€“ Responsible sourcing and raising standards: navigating the peat-free transition with confidence
  2. Neil Bragg – The nutrient requirements of non-peat growing media
  3. 911±¬ÁÏ, Sam Gallivan – Peat-free nutrition and biostimulants with the 911±¬ÁÏ propagation team
12.45–14:00 Lunch 

14:00–14:45 Breakout workshops

  1. The peat-free transition in Europe
  2. 911±¬ÁÏ, Head of 911±¬ÁÏ Garden Centres Barbara King – The peat-free journey for 911±¬ÁÏ Retail
  3. Neil Alcock, Seiont Nurseries – Growing young plants peat-free
14.45–15:15 Summary and thank you – Chris Moncrieff, 911±¬ÁÏ Head of Horticultural Information

The 911±¬ÁÏ Transition to Peat-Free fellowship

Currently the largest peat-free research project globally, this five-year project led by the 911±¬ÁÏ convenes government, growers and growing media manufacturers to research sustainable alternatives to peat in large-scale commercial settings. The project is led by dedicated research fellow Dr Raghavendra Prasad. 

Areas of focus include peat-free plant production, new growing media technologies to replace peat, growing protocols, best practice use of the latest products, and developing peat-free solutions for challenging groups such as carnivorous and ericaceous plants. Onsite trials with UK growers are helping to inform peat-free approaches across a range of plant types, growing conditions and timescales within a commercial setting.

The following partners are supporting the project financially or in kind: , , , , , , , and .

The 911±¬ÁÏ peat-free team visits nurseries and growers to assist with peat-free trials


More about this project

Get a taste for what our events offer

Dr Raghavendra Prasad, 911±¬ÁÏ Peat-Free Fellow, says, “It’s truly remarkable to witness so many industry leaders and experts under one roof. Our events are a platform for growers, growing media manufacturers and stakeholders to exchange knowledge and stay abreast of cutting-edge developments around peat-free.

They’re a chance to forge connections, share experiences and collectively contribute to the sustainable transition to peat-free horticulture. Please come and join us at future events.’’

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911±¬ÁÏ

911±¬ÁÏ is the UK’s leading gardening charity. We aim to enrich everyone’s life through plants, and make the UK a greener and more beautiful place.