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Environment secretary Hilary Benn has called for the phasing out of peat-based based compost over the next decade.

Peat extraction for use in horticulture leads to the emission of around 500,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide every year.

The environmental impact of using this form of compost is even greater when taking in the fact that 50 per cent of it is imported from overseas sources.

Consequently, Mr Benn said he wants to see an end to the use of peat in compost for use in the amateur gardener market by 2020.

He accepted that meeting the target will be "challenging", but said it is something that the sector "needs to do".

"Peat soils are extremely valuable carbon stores as well as being home to wildlife and important to archaeology and we should be doing everything we can to protect them," he added.

While peat-based compost is not required for most gardening purposes, alternatives may not work for people who are growing carnivorous plants that are native to bogs.

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