composting

Composting at home is one of the best recycling actions you can take. You keep the fertility in your garden and handling and transport of the heavy waste to the Council’s facility is avoided.   Subsidised compost bins may also be available...........an initiative with Shropshire Council. 
 

Compost for digging in and mulching can be produced in any type of compost bin. Almost all garden and raw kitchen vegetable waste can be added(NOTE: COOKED food should NOT be put into a general compost heap as it attracts rats);  turning the heap will speed up the process. If you aren’t inclined to turn your compost don’t worry—it will still rot down but will take longer.

The garden compost heap will deal with most waste but if you set up and run a worm composter this produces a valuable liquid plant feed. You can gain help from www.shropshirecomposters.co.uk  They are volunteers, and give advice to groups and individuals on home composting .
 

Many composts that are sold contain peat: this has resulted in a loss of sensitive and rare habitats .  Like peat based products not all peat free composts seem to produce great results so seek the views of people who use them if you can www.shropshireorganicgardeners.org  . Composted bracken is sometimes available from the Wildlife Trust  in Abbey Foregate as well as other peat free composts and, of course, this is the place to obtain lots of information on wildlife gardening.

New and promising is Sylva Grow, an organic growing medium compost, can be purchased at the Derwen Garden Centre, Guilsfield, and the Lawley Nursery, Heather Brae, Leebotwood, SY6 6LU.