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Congratulations on completing your course and achieving your goals and outcomes.

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Congratulations on completing your course and achieving your goals and outcomes.

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I hope that you will use your new skills now going forwards and please do let me know if we can help you to do this and support you with further learning courses at CARE, or with other local providers. Best wishes Carol

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Using your composting to create a wildlife friendly habitat in your garden

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Using your composting to create a wildlife friendly habitat in your garden

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Around 87% of households in the UK have a garden. According to The Wildlife Trusts, these cover a larger area than all our nature reserves combined.

But an increasing amount of garden space is being lost to hard surfacing, and some of the wildlife that typically visits is struggling.

Even small changes can help. Here are seven easy ways to make your garden a haven for wildlife.

1. Grow butterfly-friendly plants

Adult butterflies and moths will feed on almost any flower's nectar - as will most other pollinators - but their caterpillars are choosy and may only have one or two plant species they'll live on. For example, brimstone butterflies will only feed and lay its eggs on buckthorn bushes.

Planting an array of plant species that flower at different stages of the year will maximise the chances of a variety of butterflies and other insects visiting your garden.

Blackthorn and fruit trees such as plum and apple are good additions to the garden for animals that are active earlier in the year. Species that appear or are still active later in the year might be drawn to ling or ivy. Rotting fruit is also an excellent food source for butterflies.

The different shapes of flowers will attract different insects. The long, thin tubes of honeysuckle are particularly popular with butterflies, and bellflowers and foxgloves are great for bees. Flat flowers such as daisies and wild carrots will also attract these and a number of other insects.

Try to find out what butterfly and moth species are active in your area, and plant what their caterpillar's food plants are to maximise your chances of attracting them.

Discover more butterfly-friendly plants and other ways to help butterflies.

2. Feed the birds

A seed feeder is a quick and simple way to make your garden more attractive to birds. If you're up for some DIY, you could try making a bird feeder out of a reused plastic bottle.

If squirrels are a problem in your area, it might be better to purchase a squirrel-proof feeder instead. These only allow smaller birds access to the food.

The type of food you put in feeders will affect the species visiting your garden. For example, mealworms are popular with insect eaters like sparrows, whereas goldfinches are partial to niger seeds. If you set up a feeder, remember to clean it regularly.

Alternatively, fat balls are a particularly good option for winter, when they need food packed with energy.

3. Get the most from compost

Creating a compost heap in your garden from kitchen waste is a great way to reduce what goes to landfill and will create a minibeast haven. Minibeasts are small invertebrates such as millipedes, woodlice and spiders. These are an excellent source of food for other wildlife.

Worms help to create compost out of leaves and other organic material, and will likely wriggle their way into your compost heap. Spreading home-made compost on your garden will encourage worms wherever it spreads. Worms improve soil drainage and transfer important nutrients to the surface.

Slugs and snails may also be drawn to a compost heap. They are important recyclers, so if you spot them elsewhere in your garden, you can add them to the heap.

Slugs are also a food source for ground beetles and toads, and thrushes will eat snails. Avoid using slug and snail pesticides as these are also poisonous to other wildlife and can cause big problems in drinking water sources.

If you start a compost heap rather than using a bin, be aware that it is a warm spot that animals, including hedgehogs, will choose to hibernate in. If possible, avoid moving compost about during the winter months.

4. Help the creatures of the night

Plenty of wildlife is out in your garden at night, even if you're not awake to see it.

Honeysuckle and evening primrose are night-blooming flowers that release their scents after dark, attracting pollinating insects. There are 18 species of bat living in the UK and night-flying insects are an attractive meal for the insectivores.

You can also help bats by reducing or removing artificial lighting from your garden and around your property.

Hedgehogs are mostly night-time visitors that keep the garden ecosystem balanced. Coordinating with your neighbours to add a hedgehog hole - a gap in garden-dividing fences and walls - will help them get in.

Another way to help hedgehogs is to make them a house for nesting and hibernation.

5. Add water

There are six amphibians native to the UK, including common frogs, smooth newts and common toads. All of them are good pest controllers, feeding on a variety of invertebrates.

Adding a small pond to your garden is a great way to keep these animals happy and may even attract dragonflies in summer when they're active. The insects that gather by water will also be popular with bats.

Ponds don't have to be big, but if you do set one up, make sure it has sloping sides so if other animals fall in, they can get out.

Adding plants such as hornwort will help oxygenate a pond and keep it and its inhabitants healthy. You should avoid including plants that are invasive or not native to the UK.

Instead of a pond, you could keep a shallow, sloping-sided dish filled with water in the garden for birds. This offers both fresh drinking water and a bath. You will need to keep the water topped up and refill the dish every so often to keep it fresh.

6. Create a woodpile and leave the leaf litter

Some animals, such as butterflies and wasps, use woodpiles as a place to hide and to hibernate through the colder months. You might even find slow worms, newts, frogs and toads sheltering between the logs, as well as a number of minibeasts.

Larger logs with the bark still attached work best, placed in an area that's neither constantly sunny nor always in the shade. Even a single log partially buried provides a good habitat.
Find out how to make a log pile and what wildlife it will help
In autumn, most gardens are carpeted with a layer of fallen leaves. Piles of leaf litter can be an attractive spot for hedgehogs to hibernate, keeping them warm and dry. It's best to not to tidy the leaves up in winter to avoid disturbing any hibernators.

Additionally, once leaves start to decay, they provide important nutrients for the soil. If you want the best chance of a green garden in summer, it's best to leave the leaves. Mulch also protects against frost in winter and drought in summer, and encourages mycorrhizal fungi, which are important for plant nutrition.

7. Let things grow a little wild

UK homeowners often go for paved patios, fake grass and over-manicured lawns, but sometimes just letting the grass grow a is exactly what wildlife needs. But you don't need to let it overwhelm you.

Create a variety of habitats in your garden by leaving some parts of your lawn unmown. Longer grass is a good spot for insects, including skipper butterflies, to lay their eggs. You could try having longer grass with mowed paths or a clear area for picnics.

Longer grass provides shelter, creating a microclimate under the stalks. Not mowing also allows flowers to bloom, which helps bees. Yarrow is found in many lawns but needs more time than other plants before it flowers.

But having some mown areas is helpful for animals that feed on animals like worms, such as blackbirds and robins.

Some wild plants can take over - what are often referred to as weeds - but these are an important part of the ecosystem. Dandelions are an excellent source of nectar for insects. Some caterpillars will only feed on plants such as nettles, thistles and ragwort, so it's a good idea to keep some in the garden but to restrict them to a small area. Nettles can even be planted in a pot to stop them from spreading.
More tips on how to grow a lawn that's better for wildlife

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Seven simple ways to create a wildlife-friendly garden

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From feeding birds to leaving the leaf litter, find out how you can help urban nature and attract more wildlife to your garden

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Photo from Mags - clearning the wildlife pool ready for winter

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Photo from Mags - clearning the wildlife pool ready for winter

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The bushes and perennials are looking better as had a serious clean up well done group

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Cleaning tidying pond area as a group

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The compost bin project coming on few alterations we’ve been making hopefully finished next week our final week

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Goals playing

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Visit to Mill Farm one of the largest fully licensed wood and green waste recycling sites in the Midlands.  Based in Staffordshire. Recycling offers you a greener way to manage your waste. Recycling waste - grass cuttings, tree prunings, hedge cuttings, garden prunings to create high quality products including peat free PAS100 compost, to be used as a growth medium or soil improver.  Discuss major contribution made by Mill Farm to Staffordshire’s environmental and sustainability policy.  Visit will reinforce positive environmental choices that learners can make to support this.

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Mill Farm Recycling | Compost | Green Waste | Topsoil | Biomass

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Mill Farm Recycling is a family run business which has being within the agricultural industry since 1945. In 2004 the company diversified and started a small on farm composting site with the sole aim of producing compost as fertiliser for the farmland to use in an organic farming system.

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Gardening for wildlife with the Wildlife Trust

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Gardening for wildlife with the Wildlife Trust

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This video is packed full of ideas and tips that you can learn and experiment with to attract more wildlife into your gardens. Some lovely ways to sit and enjoy the great outdoors whilst you watch nature taking place in your own back garden. Great for mindfulness moments and wellbeing. Why not pick one or two ideas and given them a try.

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What to plant in your garden to attract more wildilfe

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What to plant in your garden to attract more wildilfe

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Wildlife Garden Design Guide - Episode 3 - Shrubs & Plants to encourage wildlife to your garden

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While there are a wide variety of microgreens that you can buy (or grow at home), the names of these miniature plants should sound familiar: beets, Swiss chard, broccoli, mustard, arugula, amaranth, and peas among others. Microgreens are simply the versions of these vegetables and herbs when they are in their tiny sprout form.

There are around sixty different kinds of microgreens. Not only do microgreens add a nutritional punch to salads, soups, or sandwiches, but they are also tender and offer delicious flavor.

Microgreens have become increasingly popular in the past handful of years, and a great deal of ongoing research seeks to understand all the health benefits these tiny plants offer.

Early research has indicated that microgreens contain up to 40% more phytochemicals (beneficial nutrients and components) than their full-grown counterparts.

Though these little greens are small in stature, they contain extremely high levels of powerful vitamins, minerals, and health-supporting components.

Microgreens can lower blood pressure. Foods that are high in fiber and vitamin K can be helpful in maintaining a healthy blood pressure, and microgreens are high in both of these important elements as well as other vitamins and minerals.

Microgreens might help fight cancer. Research is ongoing into this subject, but some early evidence suggests that sulforaphane - a compound found at especially high levels in broccoli sprouts - may help fight cancer.

Some microgreens can help lower cholesterol. A study found that red cabbage microgreens lower levels of LDL cholesterol, liver cholesterol, and inflammatory cytokines - all factors that can increase your risk for heart disease.

Microgreens can support gut health. Foods that are high in dietary fiber, like microgreens, can ease constipation or other gastro-intestinal distress when eaten as part of a healthy, balanced diet. Research also indicates that dietary fiber serves as a " prebiotic," or material that provides an ideal environment for the "good" bacteria in the human microbiome to flourish.

With over 60 varieties of microgreens and microgreen blends available, there is no shortage of tasty and healthy choices when it comes to what to explore.

Some of the most popular varieties of microgreens include:

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What are microgreens? How to eat these tiny, delicious superfoods.

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Microgreens, how to grow them at home, tutorial

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Microgreens, how to grow them at home, tutorial

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How to Grow Microgreens from Start to Finish (COMPLETE GUIDE)

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Today group 2 started working on the concept for the sliding doors, using pallett and upcycled wood.

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Group (3) Our group have worked as a team today.We all got involved in laying slabs on allotment, then we finished cutting wood . Slats, sliders Well next week we’ll be erecting compost bins in allotment.

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Safe, simple way to break down pallets for garden woodcraft projects

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Safe, simple way to break down pallets for garden woodcraft projects

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Easiest Way to Break Down a Pallet Without Damaging the Boards

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These session was clawing pallets apart which was a member of staff/volunteer and cutting pallets down to size and cutting wire mesh down to size and taking all sharp nails out and replacing them with slates as they came loose after removing nails and using staple gun to fix mesh we finished Back pallet well done team 3

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Learning how to separate garden waste for composting - and finding out what can be added safely to your compost heap.  

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Learning how to separate garden waste for composting - and finding out what can be added safely to your compost heap.  

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Today we used the rotary composter which is a quick, light and effective alternative for a 3 bin garden system - perfect for smaller garden spaces.

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All old woodwork can be renovated and restored by removing any mould or flaky bits from the surface by gently sanding it down. Once you have removed everything you can and any damaged wood has been removed or repaired it is ready for protecting from the winter weather using a quality wood stain or varnish.

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Great team work and good to see everyone taking part and putting their new skills and safe working awareness into practice.

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We have learned how to build a 3 tier compost bins today we cleared the allotment where we building compost bins it’s all ready to build next week we’ll done group

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What do you think about this design of compost bin?

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This video shows some a really good way of making a 3 bay compost bin

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This is a simple compost bin which you can make at home.

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Make Your Own Compost Bin With This Simple DIY

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Our home-made kitchen composters have been put to good use and are ready to be emptied for the first time.  Lots of nutrients and goodness to add to our outdoor compost heap, perfect!

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Our home-made kitchen composters have been put to good use and are ready to be emptied for the first time.  Lots of nutrients and goodness to add to our outdoor compost heap, perfect!

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So, what exactly does good garden compost smell, feel and look like?

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So, what exactly does good garden compost smell, feel and look like?

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DIY Indoor Compost Bin | Made By Me Garden | Better Homes & Gardens

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This article explains what green food is and how you can adapt to eat more green foods.

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What does a green diet look like? | BBC Good Food

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Green eating isn’t the latest fad diet where you’re restricted to green fruit and vegetables, but a way of eating that’s better for you and the environment.

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Code is VGLBD

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Concern about the world's leading environmental problems has grown from a simple inconvenient truth to movements large and small in countries around the globe. Students, activists, and concerned voters are calling for legislation to limit and repair environmental destruction, but individuals making a difference on their own are inspiring others to do the same thanks to social media and press coverage. New laws that enforce stricter standards and economic shifts toward greater sustainability are in the works, but until then, it's our responsibility to make a difference.

In most cases, reducing your overall impact is as straightforward as just consuming less as rule. To help you identify some areas to focus on, consider our tips below to help save the planet.

Simplify Your Purchasing Habits

The easiest solution that you can effect is to buy less and buy less often. Go a step further and stop shopping online when you're bored. The next time you do go shopping, make sure you buy things that last. That roll of paper towels won't last more than a week, so purchase cotton hand towels instead. Even better, just use the ones sitting in your linen closet. Apply this logic to every new purchase you can.

Reduce Your Energy Usage

If you're in the position to spend a little money to reduce your energy consumption, install a smart thermostat or add insulation to your attic. These solutions are relatively noninvasive and only take a day about today to add to your home.

Give Up Your Plastic Habit

The characteristics that made plastic such a boon to modern life-it's cheap, lightweight, and long-lasting-has made it ubiquitous in our environment, causing catastrophic harm to wildlife, ecosystems, oceans, and even the air we breathe. Recent studies about the far-flung destinations of microplastics, the dander equivalent of disposable plastic goods and packaging, reveal that we are most likely inhaling plastic particles. Because they're so light and refuse to biodegrade, they end up circulating our atmosphere as tiny shards and fibers.[3,4] Hundreds of millions of tons of plastic packing and consumer goods are manufactured every year. As a middle class with disposable income grows in developing countries, this problem threatens to worsen at an exponential scale. Recent awareness and the ensuing movements around plastics resulted in plastic bag bans and taxes, and corporate commitments to eliminate plastic straws from multinational restaurants and cafes. Giving up your plastic habit tends to be easier to do if you live in an urban area. Zero-waste groceries stores are popping up in North America and Europe as more shoppers wish to eliminate plastic from their lives. Ditch Disable and Single-use PlasticsThe best ways to reduce your plastic consumption are to 1) stop buying things, 2) to stop purchasing products sold in single-use plastic containers, or 3) to avoid short-lived plastic disposables. Instead of ordering take out twice a week, take the time to sit at a real restaurant or cook at home. Eat with your "real" flatware and porcelain plates rather than their disposable equivalents. The cosmetics and health aisles at the grocery stores are rife with plastic disposables. Razors, toothbrushes, floss picks, cotton swabs, pre-moistened makeup wipes, blister packs of ibuprofen and cough medicine all have better alternatives. Buy your meds in larger sizes, your razors and toothbrushes with replaceable heads, and make sure your cotton swabs have a paper stick rather than a plastic one. Truly plastic-free options like straight razors or metal safety razors should be adopted with extreme prejudice if your hands aren't steady.

Eat Less Meat

Refuse and Reduce Before You Recycle

Recycling programs are being canceled all across the United States and more and more cities are throwing your recycling in landfills because these programs are no longer profitable. Prior to 2017, the US was shipping its recycling to China by the ton. Facilities there were able to repurpose our paper waste, boxes, and plastic bottles and give them a new life. However, Americans are notorious for not recycling properly. Materials destined for recycling are often contaminated with non-recyclable plastic films, greasy pizza boxes, yogurt cups, food remnants, plastic shopping bags.[8,9] So even if you're still diligently washing out your plastic containers, tearing your paperboard boxes into shreds, removing all the label stickers of your jars-chances are your recycling winds up in the same landfill with the rest of your garbage. It might seem like there's no solution here, but the best bet is reduced the amount prepared and ready to eat the food you buy. Fruit and vegetables can be purchased fresh without packaging, and beans and grains are being sold in bulk in more stores every day. Simply bring your own reusable cloth bags or containers to the grocery store with you.

Make Smart Updates that Last

The things in your life have a shelf life, some are shorter than others. Planned obsolescence usually applies to handheld electronics, but it can also apply to your furnishings, clothing, appliances, and basically everything else you buy. If you try to make purchases that last years-if not decades-you end up using fewer resources over time. LED light bulbs are a perfect example, they last anywhere from 15-25 years.[10] LEDs will also save you a substantial amount of energy on your lighting costs if you replace enough bulbs. Consider the lifetime use of the things you buy when shopping. Short-lived fast fashion and flat-packed furniture you have every intention of getting rid of after a couple of years won't last you, and you're effectively losing money on these items once they inevitably fall apart. Buy durable goods when possible, or even better, buy them second hand to reduce the price point and give new life to items that are in still working order.

Plant a Tree

Join the Clean Energy Movement

With renewable energy becoming cheaper than traditional forms of energy-and generating hundreds of billions in economic activity-clean energy adoption is already growing by leaps and bounds around the world. Alternative forms of power such as wind, solar, hydro, bioenergy, and geothermal energy may soon overtake fossil fuel usage that contributes to global warming.[14]

You don't have to wait for renewable energy adoption to topple traditional forms of energy on your local grid, however. You can invest in and fuel the growth of green energy online today. Switch to a green energy plan or add offsets to your current plan to sharply reduce your carbon footprint while supporting green energy projects like wind farms and solar arrays.

Brought to you by justenergy.com

1 Costa, Daniel. "The True Cost of Low Prices is Exploited Workers." Economic Policy Institute. Accessed April 17, 2019. https://www.epi.org/blog/true-cost-of-low-prices-is-exploited-workers/

4 Parker, Laura. "We Made Plastic. We Depend On It. Now We're Drowning In It." National Geographic. August 2016. Accessed April 17, 2019. https://www.nationalgeographic.com/magazine/2018/06/plastic-planet-waste-pollution-trash-crisis/

5 "Methane: the other important greenhouse gas." Environmental Defense Fund. Accessed April 17, 2019. https://www.edf.org/climate/methane-other-important-greenhouse-gas

6 Godfray, H. Charles J., et al. "Meat Consumption, Health, and the Environment." Science. July 20, 2018. Accessed April 04, 2019. http://science.sciencemag.org/content/361/6399/eaam5324 .

11 "Composting At Home." Environmental Protection Agency. October 16, 2018. Accessed April 04, 2019. https://www.epa.gov/recycle/composting-home .

14 "Clean Energy." Energy.gov. Accessed April 04, 2019. https://www.energy.gov/science-innovation/clean-energy

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Top 9 Environmentally Friendly Tips to Save the Planet

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Concern about the world's leading environmental problems has grown from a simple inconvenient truth to movements large and small around the globe.

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Sustainability means so many different things to different people, you can get lost looking at how to make your impact and what impact that will make - It can be a real mindfield.

Here we compile a list of 7 changes you can make in the kitchen to do our bit for the environment and for a better future.

1.Use Eco-friendly Cleaning Products

Many of the everyday items in our kitchen are made with plastic and other non-biodegradable materials which end up in landfills and are ultimately adding to the rising plastic catastrophe we are all facing.

Everyday cleaning products are usually bought in plastic bottles, used and then replaced. These can be easily swapped for eco-friendly alternatives such as recycled or glass bottles which can be reused and refilled with a large refill (if you have the storage) or many companies are making refill pouches made from recyclable materials.

Alternatives are now readily available online or in most supermarkets with our favourites Peace With The Wild and for lots of advice and products for sustainable changes.

Great examples for quick changes and to start your eco changes in the kitchen are cleaning bottles, kitchen sponges and brushes and even gloves made from 100% plant based or biodegradable materials.

2. Ditch The Plastic

Start considering simple swaps to reduce your plastic usage, as they say, every little helps!

We have all our collection of gifted branded tote bags, now's our time to use them (and remember them) reusable shopping bags may just be the start, but every time you refuse the plastic bag, it really does add up and make the difference.

Ok, so we've ditched the plastic supermarket bags, what next?

Biodegradable trash bags! Not only can we start to use biodegradable bags in our food caddies, using biodegradable trash bags as our bin liners will degrade into smaller particles over time and tackle the jumbo roll of bin liners under the sink. Don't be fooled into thinking the bags will break and they are weak, they are stronger than you think!

The next swap is clingfilm, beeswax wrappers which are a reusable and sustainable alternative to single-use plastic wrap. Used to preserve food, it's also breathable which actually makes food last longer and stay fresher, plus, they tend to come in funky designs to add some jazz to the fridge.

We understand that parties can be a little bit less stressful by using throwaway cutlery and plates to save any washing up. Bamboo cutlery and paper plates can replace single-use plastics, just don't forget to recycle the replacements.

If you have been through our wonderful portfolio of kitchen photoshoots, you will notice a common theme - Lots and lots of Kilner jars. Designed to reduce the need to buy plastic, reduce the need for foil, wrap and ziplock bags. An investment worth making, plus they look ever so stylish on a Sustainable Kitchen shelf or in a larder.

3. Invest in long-lasting, high-quality cookware

Factors often overlooked are the materials and chemicals used to coat and create cookware, plus the lifespan we expect from our purchases.

Like the fashion industry, don't opt for cheap pans and crockery that will shatter, wear down and ultimately end up in the bin. We all know the £10 non-stick will ultimately stick! Look for lifetime guarantees and investment pieces.

4. Energy-efficient appliances

How environmentally friendly are your appliances? A lot has changed and evolved in the applianced industry recently, all for the better and mostly, hopefully, for the environment.

Whilst the A+ rating bands were set fairly low, new bands have been released in the past year to increase the specification needed to gain those A+ ratings, so now we can really tell.

Investing in good, energy-efficient appliances will be an investment piece, designed to keep bills down in the long term.

Things to think about; how water-efficient is your dishwasher? What about hobs? Think about swapping that gas hob to induction for a more energy-efficient outcome. The fridge, investing in a good quality fridge not only helps with bills, but keeps food fresher for longer.

5. Energy-efficient cooking

Believe it or not, there's even ways to be more efficient and sustainable when cooking.

Electric ovens that are powered by electric energy instead of fossil fuels keep meal times more sustainable. If you love your food as much as I do, cooking less might not be an option, but experimenting with raw foods and salads reduces oven time, even one pot meals uses less energy, washing up and water.

Easier fixes can be found by reducing oven time, with newer model ovens there's little need to preheat for a long period and can even be turned off 5-10 minutes before you have finished cooking and the residual heat will do the rest.

Covering pots and pans to ensure water is boiled quicker will also reduce hob time and boiling the kettle with only the water needed all helps.

And one that's good for the environment, and potentially our health (recipe dependant) is by batch cooking, cooking a lot at once and storing leftovers for lunches and other meals can save cooking and wrappers from potential meal deals.

6. Buy local ingredients

Choosing locally sourced and produced ingredients not only supports local communities, farmers and growers, shopping locally also reduces the air miles and preservatives needed to get items to you and keep them in an OK state.

Try the local weekend markets with organic products, free from chemical pesticides, fertilisers and plastic! A sustainable change to big supermarkets.

Fruit and veg delivery boxes are readily available in most communities, and usually the produce is much more delicious.

7. Invest in quality kitchen cabinetry

We can't end without advising to invest in any kitchen remodels. Opting for large, high street companies who ship cabinets from overseas and made from MDF will only need to be replaced down the line.

Opting for a timeless, solid wood kitchen will last you a lifetime. Work with Sustainable Kitchens to develop your dream space, we carefully select our materials with sustainability in mind opting for those that are FSC and PEFC sourced with low VOCs and handpainted to enable you to change it up in a few years time to keep your space looking fresh and you can even paint in a whole other colour should you wish to mix things up!

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How to keep a sustainable kitchen - Sustainable Kitchens

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Small changes to make a big impact - Here we round up the things you can do to be more sustainable in the kitchen.

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RHS gardening - inspiring everyone to grow / RHS Gardening

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The Royal Horticultural Society is the world’s leading gardening charity; join us for days out at stunning gardens, exclusive access to amazing flower shows, an award-winning gardening magazine and much more.

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Why is biodiversity important - with Sir David Attenborough | The Royal Society

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Global Warming 101 | National Geographic

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10 things you can do to help save our planet

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The scale of the challenges facing our planet can seem daunting, but we can all do something. Here are 10 simple ways you can help reduce your impact.

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Top tips for making great compost

Cut or break up compost ingredients into small pieces before adding them to the compost bin.

The idea of having 3 compost bins is that one can be filled, one to be used on the garden and leave one to rot down.

Make sure the compost is full of air by turning it and mixing it regularly.

If the compost feels dry add water or some 'Greens' such as grass clippings or vegetable peelings.

Golden rules for making compost

Make sure there is a mixture of 'Greens' and 'Browns' in your compost heap

'Greens' are things like grass clippings, dead flower heads, annual weeds with no seed heads, uncooked kitchen waste, fruit and vegetables, leafy plants

'Browns' are things like twiggy prunings such as hedge clippings or small twigs from a bush/shrub, woodchip, leaves, plant stems, paper (including shredded paper), card and straw

Keep a cover over the top of the heap to help control the amount of water entering the bin so it does not become too soggy

Please replace lid. Do not add perennial weeds that have fleshy roots as they may survive and regrow e.g. dandelions

If the compost is too wet, mix in some scrunched up newspaper, paper towels, cardboard or twiggy prunings to restore a good green/ brown balance

Do not add cooked food such as meat or dairy produce as this will attract vermin

Top tips for speeding up the compost process

1. Shred and chop.
Shred or chop materials as finely as possible before mixing them into the pile. For example, chop fallen leaves by running a lawn mower over them. The same strategy applies to kitchen scraps - "the smaller, the better" is the rule for compost ingredients

2. Mix dry browns and wet greens.
The two basic types of ingredients for making compost are those rich in carbon and those rich in nitrogen. Carbon-rich materials, or "dry brown," include leaves, twigs, hay, and straw. Nitrogen-rich materials or "wet greens" which include kitchen peelings and grass clippings. Aim to keep a fair mix of these materials throughout the pile.

3. Strive for size.
Build the pile at least 90cm x 90cm x 90cm so materials will heat up and decompose quickly. (Don‟t make the pile much bigger than that, though or it will be hard to turn.) Having a critical mass of materials this size helps the compost pile to get „cooking‟. Check the pile a couple of days after it is built up. It should be hot in the middle, a sign that microbial decomposers are at work. Try to add lots of organic matter in one go when filling the compost bin.

4. Add water as needed.
Make sure the pile stays moist, but not too wet (It should feel like a damp sponge). Add water if too dry. To prevent the compost becoming too soggy, cover with a tarpaulin. Having a lid on the compost will insulate it and allow more accurate control of the moisture content.

5. Keep things moving.
Moving the compost adds air to the mix and means microbes can work harder. Air circulation can be improved by emptying the container and refilling it. This will also mix the browns and greens. Alternatively consider using a compost tumbler which is a container that moves the compost materials for you when you turn it.

Remember - composting is a faster process in the warmer months and putting the compost bin in a warm position will also speed up the process.

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Follow these simple tips to make the best compost in your school garden.

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Make Liquid Fertilizer from Kitchen Scraps || Gardening Hack

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Please use the link here for enrolment.  The information that you will need is as follows:
Course Code:
Course Title:  Gardening Woodcraft and Recycling
Date: Starts 24.8.23    Ends 26.10.23
Chase Aqua Rural Enterprise CIC

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Links to English, Maths and IT support here

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Links to English, Maths and IT support here

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Numeracy and Digital Skills - The government have launched The Skills Toolkit, a collection of free online courses for adults to access whilst at home, to help you build new skills and boost growth and productivity.

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One in three people have used online learning to help them get a better job. On average, online learning can boost your annual pay by £3,640 too [ 1]

94% of employees would stay at a company longer if it invested in their career development [ 5].

Help boost team productivity and motivation by upskilling your employees with free, high-quality digital, numeracy and soft skills courses. All courses on The Skills Toolkit are free and available online, so your teams can learn flexibly from home at a time that suits them.
Explore courses

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Learn a new skill at home. Find free, high quality digital courses in The Skills Toolkit.

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Learn My Way | Learn how to use the internet

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Learn how to use the internet. Learn My Way is a website of free online learning for beginners, helping you develop digital skills.

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Tell us whether you accept cookies

We use cookies to collect information about how you use this website. We use this information to make the website work as well as possible and improve this website. We also share some of this information with our social media, advertising and analytics partners.

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We use cookies to collect information about how you use this website. We use this information to make the website work as well as possible and improve this website. We also share some of this information with our social media, advertising and analytics partners.

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National Careers Service can provide one-to-one support by telephone, email, online workshops and webinars, delivered by qualified careers advisers.

Contact Kulwinder Manak
Telephone: 0800 100 900  8am - 8pm Monday - Friday and 10am - 5 pm Saturday

or Email kulwinder.manak@prospects.co.uk
Website: https://nationalcareers.service.gov.uk

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Clic - free on-line community to support your mental health.

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Clic - free on-line community to support your mental health.

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Clic believes that no-one need by lonely or isolated, this service is available around the clock.  It offers on-lin eresources and a safe environment for people to chat, peer to peer, on-line.
Clic above to find out more.

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Whether you have a question about your mental health, want to share your own tips and advice, or just have a general chat about your day. Quickchat allows online conversations between members.
Discussion forums
Find helpful information and discuss topics which matter to you in our friendly discussion forums.
Information, videos & support contacts
From wellbeing videos to budget planning tools, our information hub contains a variety of useful resources to help you manage your mental health.

Tune in for live discussions with experts to discuss mental health, lifestyle and wellbeing.

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Clic - Free online community supporting everyone with their mental health

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Join us today and connect with others for mutual support, share your thoughts and find helpful information.

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Don't let childcare costs be a barrier to learning

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Don't let childcare costs be a barrier to learning

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Please can you complete your reflections and review for week 8.  Please let us know if you need any additional support.

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Please can you complete your reflections and review for week 9.  Please let us know if you need any additional support.

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Please take a look at our group agreement, we want everyone to feel safe, supported and included.  We want everyone to achieve as much as possible by taking part.

To approve and to leave any suggestions please use the space below.  It is important that all course members submit their approval of the Group Agreement

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Learner Agreement and Safer Learning Information

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https://careers.staffordshire.gov.uk/jobs/latest

WeRecruit is the new Staffordshire County Council's career hub which will improve the recruitment experience for you! It is accessible on both mobile and desktop devices, and will include all candidate communications and show your application progress.  You can now easily: apply for jobs, manage your profile, find information to support your job search. It will also allow you to set up job alerts, so you can quickly access jobs matching your chosen criteria.

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This website is using cookies to improve your browsing experience and to enable social media functionality. By clicking "Turn cookies on", you agree to such purposes. Read more about cookies.

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Jobs and careers with Staffordshire County Council

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This website is using cookies to improve your browsing experience and to enable social media functionality. By clicking "Turn cookies on", you agree to such purposes. Read more about cookies.

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Useful Learner Information -  British Values, Protect yourself, Feeling and Staying Safe:

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Useful Learner Information -  British Values, Protect yourself, Feeling and Staying Safe:

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https://www.staffordshire.gov.uk/Education/Community-learning-service/ProviderInfo/Safeguarding-and-Prevent-duty-overview.aspx

Using the internet safely and protectiing personal information:
https://www.deliveringforscotland.gov.uk/at-home/internet-safety/

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Manage your own mental wellbeing with new wellbeing hub

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Manage your own mental wellbeing with new wellbeing hub

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Volunteering can help improve your self-esteem and emotional health

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Volunteering can help improve your self-esteem and emotional health

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Safeguarding information for learners from Staffordshire Community Learning / county council

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Safeguarding information for learners from Staffordshire Community Learning / county council

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Safeguarding and Prevent duty: overview - Staffordshire County Council

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Information, guidance and documents on Safeguarding and the Prevent Duty.