RHS Peat-Free Workshops

A series of free workshops sharing insights from the RHS Transition to Peat-Free team and experts from across the industry

About the workshops

Welcome to the RHS 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 RHS Transition to Peat-Free fellowship. These events are run by the RHS peat-free team in partnership with leading UK growers and growing media manufacturers.

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

Upcoming workshops

18 September 2024 at RHS Garden Hyde Hall, near Chelmsford, Essex
Practical management of peat-free growing media
NOW OPEN FOR BOOKING – secure your free place below

Missed a workshop? Catch up on presentations and key messages via our workshop resources page.

Register for next workshop

Practical Management of Peat-Free Growing Media | 18 September 2024 | RHS Garden Hyde Hall

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

Email us to register

Please fill out the details requested in the pre-populated email to register.

Please note: these workshops are currently for growers only. Registrations are manually vetted and any ineligible registrants will be contacted to advise them of retraction of their booking.

Sample workshop agenda

Practical management of peat-free growing media

09:30 Registration, tea and coffee

10:00-10:15 Introduction – RHS

10:15-11:00 Dr Raghavendra Prasad, RHS Transition to Peat-Free Fellow

11:00-11:20 Break and refreshments

11:20-12:00 Growing media manufacturer 1

12:00-12:40 Growing media manufacturer 2

12:40-13:30 Lunch

13:30-13:45 RHS Legacy Peat Policy and Future Workshops – Nikki Barker, RHS Peat-Free Transition Coordinator

13:45-14:45 Peat-free clinic – book 10-minute slots in advance

OR Garden tour

Get a taste for what our events offer

Dr Raghavendra Prasad, RHS 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.’’

The RHS Transition to Peat-Free fellowship

Currently the largest peat-free research project globally, this five-year project led by the RHS 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: Allensmore Nurseries, DEFRA, Fargro, Hillier Nurseries, Hills Plants, Johnsons Nurseries, The Farplants Group, Vitacress and Volmary.

The RHS peat-free team visits nurseries and growers to assist with peat-free trials


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