British growing media producer, Durston Garden Products Ltd have invested significant time and money over the years in the restoration of peat bogs and habitats for local wildlife, whilst researching and developing effective new solutions to help gardeners grow successfully without reliance on peat.
The family business, which has been based in Somerset for over 150 years, has restored 100 acres (40 Hectares) of old peat workings to date, creating wetlands where wildlife can thrive. The surrounding area is now home to more than 18 species of bird, including egrets, wild ducks, and the Great Bittern, alongside deer, rabbits, hare, foxes, badgers, water voles, otters, dragon flies, and butterflies.
Durstons works closely with various regulatory bodies – including Somerset County Council, Defra, the Environment Agency, RSPB, English Nature, and Somerset Wildlife Trust – to implement strict practices for the restoration of peat extraction sites. The process includes the formation of clay banks before the bog is re-wetted, which creates a series of lakes. Islands are built in the lakes and reed beds factored into the scheme, generating an attractive natural habitat for wildlife. The clay banks are then topped with rich, fertile topsoil and meadow grasses sown.
On the islands, and around the perimeter of these sites, a landscaping scheme features the staggered planting of Birch, Sallow and Alder whips, which develop into beautiful wooded areas.
Durston Garden Products Ltd Director, Dan Durston explains: “We are committed to a peat-free future and take the restoration of our sites very seriously. We have operated in this area for more than 150 years, so the local environment and wildlife is extremely important to us as a family and as a business. We strive to restore the peat workings properly, creating wetlands that host swathes of native and non-natives species of birds, not to mention insects and other mammals. Otters are back in the area now and beavers have even been spotted!
“The heritage of our business has its roots in peat farming but our long-term vision is peat-free and we firmly believe it is our responsibility to do the restoration work. We have completed many of these restoration schemes now and, with the sixth generation of the Durston family now working in the business, we are fully committed to continuing this process.”
Just some of the species residing on or around Durstons’ restored peatlands:
- Great Crested Grebe • Great White Egret
- Little Egret • Grey Heron
- Common Wood Pigeon • Gadwall
- Northern Shoveler • Eurasian Coot
- Great Cormorant • Mute Swan
- Common Kingfisher • Eurasian Hobby
- Bearded Tit • Water Rail
- Great Bittern • Mallard
- Common Pochard • Tufted Duck
