The text on this page has been created from Hansard archive content, it may contain typographical errors.
Mr. Harry Greenway
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to encourage the use of recycled organic material instead of peat in tree planting programmes; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Yeo
My Department has funded research by the Forestry Commission into good practices in amenity tree planting; and has supported publication of the resulting advice. Some of this work has indicated that thorough site preparation and post-planting care are often of greater importance for successful tree planting than the use of organic matter of whatever origin, including peat. The Forestry Commission has recently published a manual of good practice for the use of sewage sludge in forestry.