Community composting scheme for village

Villagers in a small north Norfolk village will be able to make their own compost together thanks to an inventive idea dreamed up on the local farming estate.

Villagers in a small north Norfolk village will be able to make their own compost together thanks to an inventive idea dreamed up on the local farming estate.

Community composting will start at the Kelling Estate, near Holt, in a few weeks' time and participants will be in the capable hands of head vegetable gardener Cathryn Hickox who carries the grand title of 'master composter'.

Although she already had a wealth of knowledge about gardening and composting, Cathryn qualified under the master composter programme, run by Garden Organic, in November. The course teaches expertise and also encourages those taking part to promote the subject.

The community scheme will allow people who would otherwise throw away their vegetable and garden waste to reduce the amount of rubbish they send to landfill - and there will also be an opportunity to reap a reward from their efforts.

Those taking part will be able to receive back some of the compost they helped make for use in their own gardens, if they want it.

“It's very simple, people will be able to drive onto the estate and put their compostable waste into some old potato boxes instead of chucking it away,” said Cathryn.

“There will be some simple rules posted up for people to follow - no meat, nothing cooked and so on.

“The response so far has been fantastic, everyone is very keen to take part.”

Last year the Kelling Estate began a fruit and vegetable box scheme from their re-established ornamental kitchen garden, which is known as a 'potager'.

The scheme has been very successful, said Cathryn, and would expand this year.

t Anyone interested in the Kelling composting and box schemes can contact the estate office on 01263 712201. The scheme is expected to start in early February.

For more information about master composting, log on to www.homecomposting.org.uk.