Composting is the name of the game at a special Recycle for Hampshire event later this month, taking place at Hampshire County Council’s Sir Harold Hillier Gardens.

A Composting and Sustainable Gardening Day is being held on 13 May to mark Compost Awareness Week (7-13 May), and is an ideal opportunity for any budding gardeners to find out more about how they can make their gardens grow while also helping the environment at the same time.

The event at the Sir Harold Hillier Gardens in Jermyns Lane, Ampfield, near Romsey, runs from 10am-4pm. Visitors will be able to find out more about composting initiatives in their local area, see composters and wormeries in action, receive hints and tips about composting, and also purchase bags of Pro-Grow soil conditioner at a special discounted price.

In addition, there will be sustainable gardening talks/tours by horticultural experts from the Sir Harold Hillier Gardens, and visitors can get 'two for one' entry to the Gardens for this day only by presenting this article or quoting ‘Recycle for Hampshire’ at the ticket desk.

Compostable material makes up around a fifth of the average household’s outgoing waste, but there are a number of ways that it can be recycled. Garden waste such as grass cuttings and hedge clippings can be taken to your nearest Household Waste Recycling Centre (or in some areas collected from the kerbside), where it is composted and turned into the award-winning soil conditioner Pro-Grow. You can also do it yourself in your own home composter, into which you can also put fruit and vegetable leftovers, straw and leaves, to create your very own crumbly compost for your garden.

Steve Read, Executive Officer of Project Integra, Hampshire’s waste partnership, commented: “Composting is a simple way that we can all help the environment. Not only does it reduce the amount of rubbish going to disposal, but the compost produced can really help your garden too.

“I hope many people will take this opportunity to find out more about composting and sustainable gardening, while having a good day out at the Sir Harold Hillier Gardens.”

ENDS

Notes for Editors

Recycle for Hampshire is the campaign supported by all Hampshire authorities aiming to raise awareness and change behaviour regarding recycling in the county. For more information, log onto www.recycleforhampshire.org.uk 

The Sir Harold Hillier Gardens is a charitable Trust with remit in horticulture, conservation, education and recreation. Managed and operated by Hampshire County Council. Sir Harold Hillier Gardens are open from 10am to 6pm each day, with last admissions at 5pm. For all visitor information please ring 01794 369318.

Issued by: Sarette Martin on 01962 847666 or sarette.martin@hants.gov.uk

5 May 2006

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