Garden centres have “no excuse” for selling peat, claims Britain’s head gardener.

TV gardener Monty Don (copyright IPC)

Monty Don, the Gardeners’ World presenter, became embroiled in a row on Twitter after he told his 24,000 fans: “If you cannot find peat-free compost, make a fuss. Garden centres care only about the money – tell them they are losing a sale.”

But a representative of Stratford Garden Centre in Warwickshire objected and replied: “Harsh, unless you mean we care about money to pay our staff and suppliers to keep this friendly industry going.”

Organic gardener Monty, who once said he hadn’t been to a garden centre for 10 years, hit back: “None of that justifies eco-vandalism. Be friendly, care for staff and customers AND the planet.”

Ben Reid Garden Centre of Aberdeen then waded into the spat, telling the BBC star: “Please don’t tar us all with the same brush Monty. People, plants and passion is what drives the majority of us in the trade.”

Again, Monty defended his stance, replying: “But there is really no excuse for any garden centre ever to sell peat in any form. It doesn’t make the owners bad – just wrong in that issue.”