One of the biggest threats facing certain butterflies and moths is the destruction of the peat bogs where they live.
Every year three billion litres of peat are used to make garden compost in the UK alone. The extraction of this peat destroys precious habitats where insects and wildflowers thrive.
You can save wildlife by going peat free.
Dersingham Bog
Lowland raised peat bogs provide a unique wetland habitat for swamp-loving plants and wildlife. Peatland stores carbon which helps to mitigate pollution from fossil fuels as well as providing a natural flood defence.
Extracted Peat
Our actions and decisions are destroying these precious places along with the flora and fauna that need them. A 10 metre deep peat bed takes 9,000 years to form but can be cleared in fewer than 50 years.
Large Heath
The Large Heath butterfly has suffered serious declines in England and Wales and is now mainly found on wetland habitat in Ireland and Scotland. The species occurs almost exclusively on peat bogs where the main foodplant of its caterpillars - Hare's-tail Cottongrass - grows.
Argent and Sable
The Argent and Sable is a nationally scarce moth which feeds on the Bog Myrtle plants that grow on peatland sites. This moth's dramatic decline is largely due to habitat destruction.
Go Peat Free
You can play your part in preventing this destruction by choosing peat-free alternatives for your garden. Remember to always check the bag when buying compost.