The meeting, which took place on June 13 at William Sinclair in Ellesmere Port, included a tour of the manufacturing facility and a chance for members to discuss the use of peat.
Chairman of the GCA, Peter Burks explained: “It was great for our members to have the chance to meet up and have a discussion about peat and peat alternatives.
“We had a big debate on the topic and now we have listened to our members views we will be working with the Horticultural Trades Association (HTA) to develop a policy.”
Carol Paris, Director General of the HTA also attended the event.
Managing Director of Poplars Garden Centre in Bedfordshire, David Little, said: “I found the day very interesting and informative. The facilities at Sinclair’s Ellesmere Port are very impressive and the company’s vision for further investment at the site are very exciting indeed.
“It was really useful to be reminded of the Government’s targets regarding the use of peat in amateur gardening and to understand what the alternatives are for the future.
“I came away with one clear message, while the contents of the bag may be changing, the results for gardeners will be the same. The challenge facing us now is to get this message across to our customers.”
