Otterbourne based company Hampshire Waste Services has come to the aid of local cyclist Alison Craig as she bids to raise sponsorship for a 350 mile trip across Spain, Bilbao to Barcelona, by bike. Alison is one of 22 volunteer cyclists on the first of what is hoped will become an annual trip organised by the Soil Association to raise funds and promote awareness of environmental and organic issues.

Alison gets on her bike! with the help of Peter Mills.

Having been a member of the Soil Association for a number of years, Alison saw this as the perfect opportunity to combine her passion for cycling with her passion for the environment, and has been training with Winchester Cycle Touring club to raise her stamina ahead of the week long trip.

The Soil Association aims to raise around £40,000 helping to fund their campaign to promote bio-diversity and organic farming practices in the UK. They also hope to encourage gardeners to follow the National Trust's lead in phasing out the use of peat in gardens over the next two years. At present, only six per cent of the original lowland-raised peat bogs remain, and the bogs are in turn host to a wide range of endangered wildlife.

Peat use by gardeners has increased by 50 per cent in the last seven years and, "it is up to individuals, especially those living in rural areas, to be aware that there are changes which can be made in their gardens that will directly impact the wildlife habitats of this country. Sustainable alternatives are constantly being developed by ecologically minded organisations," says Alison. "Using peat is gardening at the expense of wildlife."

Hampshire Waste Services is at the forefront of this movement, recycling garden waste and clippings to produce the Pro-Grow soil conditioner. Pro-Grow has been certified as organic by the Soil Association and is available to gardeners either in sacks at recycling centres or delivered to the home in loose form.

To purchase Pro-Grow, contact Peter Mills at Hampshire Waste Services on 01962 764000.
You can contact Diane Bowman at the Soil Association on
0117 914 2427.

12 May 2000

For further information please contact Peter Mills at Hampshire Waste Services on 01962 764000.

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