The winner will be announced at the Garden Media Guild (GMG) Awards lunch on 21 November.
HortWeek digital content manager Christina Taylor wrote, produced and narrated the ambitious four-part podcast documentary series, which features leading horticulture industry figures from all sides of the argument, including RHS's Nikki Barker (RHS), Simon Blackhurst (Growing Media Association), Melanie Asker (Greenwood Plants), Boyd Douglas-Davies (garden retail consultant), Bunny Guinness (broadcaster) and Sally Drury (HortWeek technical editor).
“Being shortlisted is the mark of excellence,” said the GMG. “With the arrival of AI, it is increasingly difficult to find reliable, authoritative information. The GMG Awards are judged by both top professional gardeners and media experts, so readers, listeners and viewers know that a GMG award winner or finalist badge stands for trustworthy information as well as inspiration.”
The programmes navigate the history of the UK peat ban, tackling the different facets of the peat issue across four episodes:
• Episode 1: Do we need a peat ban?
Establishes the foundational arguments for and against a ban and outlines its initial impacts.
• Episode 2: From multipurpose to pick ‘n’ mix
Provides an in-depth look at how garden retailers are managing the transition.
• Episode 3: The cost of trial and error
Examines the specific, little-understood challenges faced by growers.
• Episode 4: A whole new take on horticulture
Hears from some growers who have successfully made the leap to peat-free growing. It outlines RHS policy on peat-free and examines how a ban might impact UK horticulture’s ability to compete internationally. Taylor asks whether growers are ready for legislation, and industry figures give voice to what they need for it to work, without destroying the horticulture industry in the process.
HortWeek editor Matthew Appleby said: “The End of Peat saw Christina Taylor get fully immersed into this important issue, talking to professionals and amateurs to reveal a range of views, presented in a deep-dive format that gave listeners a comprehensive overview of the topic.”
