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, 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.

2024 Events

18 September RHS & HTA peat-free workshop – book below
Optimising plant propagation and crop establishment in peat-free growing media
RHS Garden Hyde Hall and WD Smith and Son, Essex



28 November RHS peat-free horticulture conference
Peat-free propagation
RHS Garden Wisley, Surrey

Upcoming: RHS & HTA workshop

Optimising plant propagation and crop establishment in peat-free growing media

18 September 2024 at RHS Garden Hyde Hall
Near Chelmsford, Essex

NOW OPEN FOR BOOKING – secure your free place
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 book

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

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

Workshop agenda: 18 September 2024

RHS & HTA: Optimising plant propagation and crop establishment in peat-free growing media

Join us for this RHS and HTA workshop on 18 September at RHS Garden Hyde Hall to learn more about research and development of peat-free propagation materials, nutrition for peat-free propagation, and insights from growers and researchers.

Peat-free propagation requires a slightly modified approach compared to traditional peat-based growing mixes, to account for the different physical and chemical characteristics of a peat-free mix. It is essential to understand factors such as plant sensitivity, electrical conductivity (EC), nutrient content of propagation materials, and material integrity during transplanting.
 
During the workshop, growers, growing media manufacturers and industry peers will discuss the latest insights into these areas and how they can be factored in to optimise peat-free propagation.

Missed a workshop? Find materials from all previous events via our workshop resources page.

09:00-09:30 Registration and refreshments

09:30-09:45 Introduction to the workshop

09:45-10:15 Influence of peat-free growing media in loose-fill and glue-plug-based propagation
– Stephen Godfrey, Jiffy

10.15-10.30 Peat-free growing media and propagation from a grower’s perspective: bedding plants
– Andrew Fuller, Technical & Cultivation Director, Bridge Farm Group

10:30-11:00 Break and refreshments

11:00-11:30 Peat-free growing media and propagation from a grower’s perspective: shrubs and woody plants
– Harry Downes, Wyevale Nurseries

11:30-12:15 RHS Fellowship trials on propagation and the practical implications for propagation and crop establishment
– Dr Raghavendra Prasad, RHS

12:15-12:45 Importance of nutrition in peat-free propagation and early establishment
– Steve Chapman, ICL

12:45-13:00 Questions and wrap-up

© WD Smith and Son

13:00-13:30 Lunch

13:30-14:00 Travel to WD Smith and Son, Battlesbridge

14:00-15:30 Welcome from Mike Smith and nursery visit. Split into two groups for two tours:
 
  • Propagation house to view and seed and cutting-raised peat-free production
  • Nursery tour of finished crops and facilities
Both groups will experience both tours during the afternoon.

15:30 Wrap-up and depart from WD Smith and Son

Transport and directions: 18 September workshop at RHS Hyde Hall

For information on getting to RHS Garden Hyde Hall, please visit this page. Please note that if possible, Google maps and sat navs should be set to “Car Park, Rettendon Common, Chelmsford CM3 8ET” (the free onsite car park), and not simply to RHS Garden Hyde Hall or the postcode alone, to ensure the correct route onto the site. The final approach should be via Creephedge Lane and Westerns Approach, and not via the retired entrance on Buckhatch Lane (no through-route to car park). Onsite parking is free; EV charging is not yet available.

The closest train stations are Wickford (approx. 5 miles) and South Woodham Ferrers (approx. 3 miles). Chelmsford is approx. 8 miles away with regular fast trains from London Liverpool Street, which take 35 minutes. Taxis from local train stations operate as follows:

  • Wickford Taxis (01268 272727) offer a set fare from Wickford train station to RHS Hyde Hall for £17
  • Happicabs (01245 321321) offer a set fare from South Woodham Ferrers station to RHS Hyde Hall for £15

The Dry Garden at RHS Hyde Hall

Once at RHS Garden Hyde Hall: 

The workshop will take place at Hilltop Lodge. On arrival, head from the car park towards the visitor entrance in the welcome building and let staff know that you are attending the peat-free workshop. On entering the Garden, the Hilltop Lodge venue can be reached by following the route shown on this garden map (1MB pdf).

Getting to WD Smith and Son

The afternoon nursery visit, taking place at WD Smith and Son (SS11 7QU), is a 3-mile drive from RHS Hyde Hall. Car-sharing for this journey can be arranged during the event.

Please note that navigation will need to be set to start from “Car Park, Rettendon Common, Chelmsford CM3 8ET” (the onsite car park) in order to take the correct route off the RHS Hyde Hall site. Aternatively, wait until reaching the car park before loading maps and then use your current location as the starting point, or follow this pre-loaded route. Go to route on Google maps

Email us to book

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

Please note: these workshops are currently for growers only (max. two per business). Any ineligible registrants will be contacted to advise them of retraction of their booking. Please see privacy notice above agenda for information on how your data will be handled.

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


More about this project

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.’’

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