A GARDEN centre is urging gardeners to switch to an eco-friendly alternative to help their plants grow.

Perrywood in Tiptree said it has “significantly increased” its peat-free growing options to combat climate change.

Peat is used to enhance soil condition and improve its water and nutrient retention.

The product is made up of decayed organic matter and vegetation which has developed in lowland or wetland bogs over thousands of years.

A spokesman said: “The extraction of peat can contribute towards climate change because peat bogs act like a sponge, absorbing carbon from the atmosphere and storing it safely underground.

“When they are dug up the carbon is released into the atmosphere.

“We asked 25 volunteers from two gardening groups to try peat-free and 64 per cent said they would use peat-free again.”

Visit perrywood.co.uk.