Category: Community Groups

Brecon Beacons / Bannau Brycheiniog

Brecon Beacons / Bannau Brycheiniog

Brecon Beacons / Bannau Brycheiniog

Some were a little concerned about the length of this walk as it was billed as 8 miles. A reminder that we had been here before was reassuring.

Seed heads of coltsfoot decorated the side of the path. On the edge of a wood, we spotted a tiny blue-purple flower, Butterwort, it is carnivorous and grows in bogs, moors, damp heath and wet rocks. It was believed that it protected cattle from elves’ arrows and newborn babies from thieving fairies. The leaves were used to curdle/thicken milk.

Ears pricked as we heard a cuckoo – a rare sound these days but, given our ages, one we are all familiar with. ‘Cuckoo’ seemed to follow us as we walked the perimeter of the woodland and out into the open.

A steep descent invited the fittest of us to visit a cave. Others walked around a gully to meet ‘the intrepid cavers’ as they climbed back up to join us. Now we crossed moorland, it was uphill and difficult as we tried to follow tracks made by animals, hopefully avoiding the largest holes, clumps and water. At one point we saw a ‘frog in a bog’.

Lunch was at the highest point of the moor. What a delight, as well as decent views, there was the continuous song of skylarks, two flying close to the ground near us. Dark clouds gathered and there was even a clap of thunder but apart from a few raindrops, they disappeared, and rain descended on the hills around us.

We entered woodland and took a track through Penmoelallt forest where Ley’s whitebeam grows. There are only 10 of these trees growing wild in the world and they are all in this area. Towards the end, we found a clearing with a large natural table, and various sculptures – badgers, a woman and a hare with the moon.

A slightly longer walk than usual but an enjoyable day of wide vistas and a sense of accomplishment. Walk 9.2miles, 1600ft. Map OL12

Clodock – We parked outside the church in Clodock, a village with few houses in Herefordshire. A large plastic shark on a wall reminded us we were here 10 years ago. We headed east, a steep climb to start, and then rolling countryside. Turning north, Skirrid (where we had walked a week earlier) came into view in the distance.

We reached the highest point of the walk where there was a trig point, hidden as it was enclosed by a hedge. We passed Oldcourt farm, a Grade II listed, 14th century stone house and barn with mullioned windows and a huge chimney. Agents’ details show it was on the market for close to £1million. A stand-alone wall was fascinating with triangular holes through it and pennywort growing between stones. We saw several longhouses in the area.

Now we were headed towards Longtown but stopped for lunch next to a dry brook as the views were extensive. A downhill stretch took us to Escley Brook whose refreshing water gave the dogs a chance for a deep drink.

Longtown castle, 12th and 13th century, has a keep which can be seen from a distance even though it is crumbling. The castle was founded by Walter De Lacy, one of the Marcher lords, to defend England’s border with Wales and the adjacent town of Ewias Lacy (now Longtown). By 1403 the castle had become dilapidated, but Henry IV ordered it to be refortified to defend against Owain Glyn Dwr.

Near the castle is the Old School House which has several stone plaques displayed. The school was originally financed through subscriptions of £66 2s raised from 34 people. Broome’s garden, next to the school is owned by English Heritage and maintained by volunteers. Mr Broome was a volunteer who taught boys vegetable gardening whilst girls were learning domestic skills.

We headed to Longtown and saw ‘The New Inn Spiritous Liquors Sold Here’ now a private house. A friendly farmer helped us avoid a difficult stile by inviting us to walk through his farm – chainsaw in hand he said, ‘Come with me’; we gladly followed!

Back at Clodock, we were impressed by the church, dedicated to a British king Clydawc and founded in 6th century, enlarged during 12th century and restored 1919.

A day of historic buildings, rolling hills, meadows, kites and buzzards and probably the worst stiles we have had to negotiate in a very long time. We decided that we had chosen the best time of year for this walk – not much mud or too overgrown. The pub in Clodock has the smallest bar I have ever seen with a delightful garden. Walk 7.3miles, 1000ft. Map OL13.

 

“The Guest List ” by Lucy Foley

“The Guest List ” by Lucy Foley

Old Friends. Past grudges.

Happy families. Hidden jealousies.

Thirteen guests. One body.

The wedding cake has barely been cut when one of the guests is found dead. And as a storm unleashes its fury on the island, everyone is trapped. All have a secret. All have a motive. One guest won’t leave this wedding alive…

A dream wedding off the windswept Irish coast becomes a living nightmare for its trapped and terrified guests in this nerve jangling thriller.

For many of us it was not our usual choice of reading material and therefore presented a welcome challenge. The book was written in short paragraphs devoted to an individual character in the story. The setting was very dramatic, made more so by the description of the imminent storm. It was agreed that the subject matter and characters perhaps gave an interesting reflection on an area of British society.

We all agreed that the characters came from an unfamiliar part of society to us and did not share our values. As a result, none of us felt able to empathise with any of the characters who were described as shallow, boring, cardboard cutouts, wishy washy and dysfunctional.

However, this did not detract from the suspense of the story that left all of us unable to guess the surprise ending. Overall, the book received a score of 4 out of .10.

Bellman & Black by Diane Setterfield

OFF THE SHELF

“Bellman & Black” by Diane Setterfield

 

This month’s book was Bellman & Black a ghostly, gothic read written by Diane Setterfield.

When William Bellman was a ten-year-old child, in an act of bravado he killed a rook with his catapult. An act that he regretted, went on to forget, but was to impact on his future.

As he progressed to adulthood, William was blessed with increased good fortune, a successful career, a happy marriage with children. William began to experience a series of personal tragedies and at each funeral he attends, he sees a mysterious stranger in black, someone he thinks he should remember but can’t place.

This dark and atmospheric read was full of guilt and regret. William avoids dwelling on unpleasant memories and enters a bargain with the dark stranger whom he names Mr Black. William becomes gripped with building of a lucrative new business in the shape of an emporium selling everything needed to commemorate a loved one’s death. This connects William’s obsession with other’s death as a way of avoiding the mourning of his loved ones and evading the living of his own life.

As the author makes several references to rooks in myths and fables, William becomes increasingly unhinged and convinces himself that Mr Black was somehow related to the rook he killed years ago and that he was seeking revenge for this act.

Whether as a ghost or in the form of the grim reaper, Black eventually makes himself known to William who insists on paying Black his perceived debts. Black says that what he offered was an opportunity not a business partnership. The opportunity being thought and memory. Lost good and bad memories and the grief of his un-mourned loved ones’ deaths tortures William to his own death.

This was a beautifully written story based on memories and loss. Although many characters and events could have benefitted from further exploration and explanation from the author, most of us found it a good read. We gave the book a score of 8/10.

Monmouth

Monmouth

Monmouth’s history goes back at least 2000 years to the presence of a Roman garrison. Its position at the meeting place of 3 rivers – the Trothy, Monnow and Wye, and one of the few places where the Wye could be safely crossed, allowed it to grow from a market town to the seat of legislature. Parts of the medieval town survive at Monnow bridge, the priory buildings and the castle where Henry V was born. In Agincourt Square his statue overlooks that of another famous citizen, Charles Rolls, an early pioneer of aviation and co-founder of Rolls Royce.

We were lucky to park as, we chose the day of the Monmouth Regatta for our walk. The beginning of the walk along the river was very busy with many people participating in the regatta (some from as far away as Staines) and spectators.

A few of us went into the Church of St Peter, its history stretches back to early Welsh Christianity with the first mention of a church, Llan Tydwg, in AD 750. It was on the border of a small Welsh kingdom of Archenfield, a stronghold of the early Celtic Church. The current church was probably rebuilt in the 11th Century after it was destroyed by the Welsh prince Gruffydd ap Llywelyn who, in 1054, led a raid up the Wye to Hereford, devastating riverside settlements. Historically the church has passed back and forth between the dioceses of Llandaff and Hereford. Now, although the church is in Monmouth (Wales), it is part of the diocese of Hereford (England) as the parishioners voted for this in 1921.

The church was full of interesting information and articles. One of my favourite nuggets was ‘customs included the payment of rent in honey; the Welsh believed that bees came from Paradise and so candles for Holy Communion were always made from beeswax.’ The old font was discovered in the rubble of chapel farm, it is possible that after leaving the church it was used to press apples or as an animal trough. There is a leper’s bench and door. A beautiful, variegated tree stands in the church yard.

It is thought that the church has been flooded 64 times in the last 95 years. In the 2020 flood (1.6metres) the pews damaged the reredos and in 2023 the pulpit was lost. The floor is regularly being replaced.

Leaving the river, we went through a tunnel under the A40 where the walls were decorated with painted mosaics created by local groups and schools; they depict the heritage of Monmouth and the Wye valley AONB. We travelled along tracks on the edge of the town until we passed the ‘the Manor on the Monnow’. We soon came to a feat of engineering, where the Monnow was channelled creating a hydroelectric scheme with a fish pass. Monmouth’s lights were water powered in 1899! In the 17th century a forge was powered at this site. At one point the river went over a lip creating an infinity pool effect.

Continuing we enjoyed fields of buttercups, welcome shade from trees along the river, and extensive views of the countryside. Climbing a steep road, we passed a small holding with a peacock and other birds, and someone spotted a few deer. Crossing a couple of fields, we stopped for lunch in a meadow covered in a red and yellow carpet of flowers and grasses. As we sat, we were excited to spot a herd of about twenty deer in the distance.

Walking again along a road, we saw the roe deer race across a field next to us before they disappeared. We passed Westwood Archery Centre where we were warned ‘ No trespassing – Violators will be shot; Survivors will be shot again’. We continued to have excellent views of the Black mountains and found some wonderful examples of trees, foxgloves and other wildflowers beside the paths. Emerging onto a road we were admiring a barn which had been weather-proofed with a new roof when the farmer told us it was for sale, if we were interested.

Near the end of the walk, we crossed the A40 and walked along the river Wye catching a few races of the regatta, as we walked, before returning to the cars. One race consisted of two mixed teams of eight rowers, the first of these any of us had seen. Someone in our group had to comment that ‘everyone seemed to be wearing old fashioned swimming costumes’.

An interesting and sunny walk was topped off with refreshments at a local garden centre

Walk 8.3m, 1100ft. Map OL14

 

Intriguing Ideas For Repurposing

WENVOE FORUM

Considering Tomorrow Today

“Intriguing Ideas For Repurposing”

 

 

A visit to the opticians this morning set me thinking. It was 2019, that I last had my eyesight checked. I do know the recommendation is that you go for a check-up every 2 years. I am sure that there were many more tests and checks carried out today than in 2019 even and reading the bottom line of the chart on the wall is a practice that has completely vanished now, to be replaced by machines that check for other health conditions detectable through your eyes. Thankfully this morning they found only slight changes in my prescription and nothing to worry about. However I did worry a little about “consuming” yet another pair of glasses. As I wear them only for reading/screen work or driving my specs tend to stay in pretty good condition. I do try to reuse frames but sometimes it is not possible and often there is a good reason to buy new ones. With several pairs in various drawers, no longer of use to me, I thought it time to do some recycling/reusing research.

As expected, avoiding using resources unnecessarily, by reusing old frames for your new prescription lenses is the best option. This of course supposes that you can manage without your glasses for a week or two while the new lenses are set in the old frame.

According to US charity “All about vision” around 1,000,000,000 people globally live with vision impairment that could be rectified by a pair of glasses that they can’t afford. Your old reading glasses are very likely to need no more than cleaning up for someone else to benefit from using them. Even lenses with complex prescriptions can be matched with patients by specialists. Opticians and charity shops often belong to schemes to reuse pairs of glasses where they are most needed, so take old ones with you when you have your check up, the optician’s recycling box starts with reuse. Any that can’t be used in this way will be broken down and their components reused or recycled appropriately.

As I was searching up popped information about what to do with your old mobile phone. Much of it was pretty standard recommendations but amongst all that there were some intriguing ideas for repurposing mobile phones. Here’s a few from the list, turn your old phone into:-

  • a security camera
  • a baby monitor
  • a web cam
  • an audio player
  • a GPS device
  • a remote control

 

and if you’ve had enough of those you can always make sure the phone is properly recycled by a reputable recycling company who will ensure reuse of the valuable, scarce components in particular.

And the Keys?

Well, with keys best of all keep them with the lock, then they will always be useful. Except of course, if lock and key are together they are not doing their security job. Inevitably you end up with keys that you have no idea what for. They are mostly metal and can join the metal scrap at the recycling centre, cut off any plastic covers first.

Keys, as symbols of abstract ideas find their way into in lots of creative artwork. How about considering a garden sculpture?

The key to being a successful minimal consumer is awareness and motivation. So here’s a suggestion how about arranging a collection in your street of the unwanted spectacles, or phones and volunteer to get them to the right recycle/reuse/repurpose project.

You will motivate others and repurpose yourself for a short while.

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To join our Facebook group, please ‘friend up’ with the Gwen Fo account @ https://www.facebook.com/ gwen.fo.1 and then jon the Wenvoe Forum @ https://www.facebook.com/ groups/635369267864402

Some further information and updates, blog site https://wenvoeforum.wordpress.com/. Any Wenvoe community member is welcome to join the Forum meetings, via Zoom, which are normally held 19.00 on the second Thursday of each month. E-mail gwenfo.forum@gmail.com if you wish to join.

Blackmill & Treorchy

Blackmill & Treorchy 

Blackmill – This walk took us to some beautiful countryside, although wet underfoot there were stones in most places, so it was not too muddy! We began in Blackmill and walked up the Ogwr Fawr towards the Ogmore forest and back via Cwm Dimbach. Blackmill is at the confluence of two Ogwr rivers, three railway lines and two main roads – the gateway to the Ogmore valleys.

We walked in sunshine with big fluffy clouds in the sky. The climb was gradual, and we looked over the valley observing that buildings were appearing much higher up the hills. The views were extensive and the hills lush and green. At our high point of the day, we could see the channel in the far distance.

We stopped for lunch at the side of a stream, where water tumbled down the hillside. It was the first time this year we could feel the heat of the sun as we sat.

The ground was saturated, but we walked down a stream which was stony making it comfortable walking downhill. A river separated us from a woodland of bare trees with a carpet of moss across the whole space. Apart from occasional birdsong and the noise of flowing water the place was peaceful with a deep silence. In one area rocks at the side were covered in ferns and mosses, dripping with water, just as you would imagine a fairy glen.

We came to an isolated house where a ford crossed the river. Two of us were a bit behind everyone else and pretended that we thought we had to cross the ford, and everyone egged us on, only for us to turn at the last moment and use the pedestrian bridge. Moments later a car drove across the ford creating a small bow wave.

The end of the walk was along the Great Glamorgan Way. We finished at a café in Blackmill which supplied us with piping hot cups of tea – a wonderful day. [Walk 7.25m, 1100ft. Map OS166]

 

Treorchy – As the weather has improved, we have enjoyed some wonderful walks in the sunshine. This was one of them. Thirteen of us and three dogs parked on a steep street in Cwmparc. It was not long before we had left the houses behind and were climbing a forest track. The valley of houses sat in a bowl, formed by the hills.

The day warmed, something we had not experienced in a while. Leaves were starting to uncurl on shrubs, and we spotted the yellow flowers of coltsfoot which emerge before the leaves.

As we got higher an expanse of wind turbines appeared, as did the shell of a burnt-out car. Towards the top of the walk, we arrived at a crossroads and chose it as a lunch stop. Soon everyone started spreading out, a few in a depression, some on a bank with their backs to the sun, some facing the sun on the opposite bank and a couple even went into the woods to lean on a tree. It was all reminiscent of lockdown with none of us closer than 6 ft to one another. Some traffic passed, a few cyclists (one without a helmet, crazy!), several walkers and inevitably, disturbing the peace, a few offroad motorbikes.

The views on the walk were excellent; there were continuous rolling hills, but we also caught glimpses of Pen y Fan and Sugar Loaf. Surprisingly, from this distance (we were at the top of the Valleys) we could see the Bristol Channel and England. In the sky we had spotted a buzzard and kite and, on the ground, a tiny eggshell.

We came off the stony track onto a boggy footpath, then a short distance along a road. All too soon we reached ‘the descent’. We had been warned that walking poles were advisable. The hill rose steeply to our right where a rickety old fence stopped us heading inland and to our left was a rocky gorge. A couple of ewes with their lambs were scrambling on the craggy hillside. The footpath was a mix of loose stones and grass and we descended at varying rates depending on our fitness and head for heights. A small herd of cattle, with young calves, grazed in the valley which opened out below us.

The end of the walk was open moorland and after crossing this we followed a fast-flowing stream. Painted stones bordered the path as we neared housing, and a sign told us it was ‘Cwmparc Pathway of Hope created in 2020’ another reminder of lockdown.

We chatted to a few of the locals as we passed them outside their houses which looked out onto the hill. A great day in the hills with wall-to-wall sunshine dotted with a few wispy clouds and rounded off with drinks outside a pub in Porth. [Walk 7.5m, 1500ft. Map OS166]

 

 

“Nocturnes” by Kazuo Ishiguro

“Nocturnes” by Kazuo Ishiguro 

This could be the shortest Page Tuners book review ever as there was almost universal condemnation of their latest book choice. The group had previously read, and enjoyed some of Ishiguro’s novels and were looking forward to this series of 5 short stories. The book’s cover promised stories of Music and Nightfall and reviews had described it as a ” lovely, clever book”. Not one member of the book club used these words to describe their thoughts on the book, and many found it hard to remember what the stories were about as they were so unmemorable! Ishiguro tied the stories together with a musical theme; the PageTurners tied the stories together with these words…disappointing, silly, stupid, mundane, unfulfilling, unsatisfactory….do I need to continue? An overall score of 3, surprisingly, considering the very lively, negative views expressed! Have a read and see if you share our thoughts

“Fast Fashion”

WENVOE FORUM

Considering Tomorrow Today

“Fast Fashion”

Some time ago only the very rich could afford fashionable clothing made by a famous designer such as Gabrielle Chanel or Yves Saint Laurent and that to be a skilful seamstress and able to “copy” the designs was a very useful attribute, though of course matching the same fabrics was a different challenge. As the economy gradually grew after WW2 a bigger range of fashionable, (not designer) garments came within the reach of far more people. Now fast forward to the present when so called “Fast fashion” uses the abundant cheap labour in less economically prosperous countries and allows the fashion conscious to change their wardrobe 2 or 3 times a year.

It sounds like a very straightforward example of developing economies. We are mostly gradually getting richer and the consumption of resources seems almost to have become the reason for life. We know that climate is changing and that we must change our behaviour if our grandchildren are going to be able to live out their lives comfortably on Earth. But is the fashion industry an important target and what would we do anyway, we have to wear clothes!?

Well, a very short investigation on the world wide web will find you plenty of statistics that may surprise you. By some calculations, starting with the growing of crops and including the dying of materials and making up the final products, the fashion industry is responsible for 10% of global carbon dioxide emissions. It is the third most polluting industry, worse than aviation; clothes production is growing and the length of time garments are in use is getting shorter.

Rather than fill the page with negative statistics let’s concentrate on some positive ideas others have had.

Researchers from the University of Technology Sydney’s, Institute for Sustainable Futures in Australia suggest that we must aim to reduce our purchase of new clothing by a whopping 75%, buying clothes designed to last and recycling them at the end of their lifetime.

An Oxfam blog tells us that we buy more new clothes per head in the UK than the rest of Europe. To help convince you that you really can manage

with many fewer clothes there are campaigns in which you choose 10 items from your wardrobe and restrict yourself to wearing only these for a month. Apparently having done so you soon learn about coordinating colours and valuing garments that can be worn in different ways.

Recycling clothes through charity shops or fashion swops makes good sense. Some readers may remember the scrum at the beginning of a really good jumble sale to come up with a bargain.

A little skill with a needle and thread can open up all sorts of possibilities.

If there is really no other option a surprising range of natural and synthetic fabrics can be recycled into new fabric often using less energy than is used with new fibres.

We may yet return to older practices. I remember my arms aching as I held them up to be used to hold a skein of wool taut, as my mother unravelled a jumper so that the wool could be reknitted into something else.

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Many thanks to those who gave garden tools and pots to the Reuse table that Gareth and Glenys Stone organised at the Tucker’s plant sale. Not only were lots of items sent off to new homes, rather than the recycle unit, but donations made a healthy contribution to the overall proceeds for the Wild life group. We kept some of the less blemished pots with some plans for Christmas in mind.

Gwenfo.Forum@gmail.com or via Facebook: GwenFo@ https://www.facebook.com/gwen.fo.1/ and Wenvoe Forum @ https://www.facebook.com/ groups/635369267864402

We do hope that you find these ideas and tips useful.  Good luck with your gardening. Please keep a look  out for our other activities, and join us or send  messages on:

Facebook: Gwen Fo @ https://www.facebook.com/  gwen.fo.1/ and Wenvoe Forum @ https://  www.facebook.com/groups/635369267864402  twitter @ForumGwenfo or e-mail –  gwenfo.forum@gmail.com

 

Bournville by Jonathan Coe

OFF THE SHELF

“Bournville” by Jonathan Coe

The village of Bournville was developed at the end of the 19th century. George Cadbury had expanded his chocolate making business to a larger factory set in countryside outside Birmingham. He was a Quaker and believed that workers had a right to good working conditions and housing. Over time he bought 120 acres near his factory and built the village of Bournville. This provided his workers with good quality houses with gardens. He also provided leisure facilities which he believed, led to a better quality of life.

Jonathan Coe’s story follows one family through a period, from the end of the second world war to the beginning of the COVID epidemic. Principally this is a story about family and family relationships.

Coe sets his story in the context of Bournville village life and historical and often life changing cultural events, beginning with VE day and Royal coronations, and the development of television through 75 years to the COVID epidemic. The story begins at the beginning of the COVID epidemic and moves between present and past. In this book Coe uses the family stories around these events to illustrate how the British see themselves in relation to the rest of Europe and just occasionally using humour to do this. Alongside the occasional humour there was poignancy and sadness but nevertheless a story that offers optimism and hope.

Overall, our book club enjoyed the book and gave it a score of 8.5.

Focusing On The Reuse Of Various Resources

WENVOE FORUM

Considering Tomorrow Today

Focusing On The Reuse Of Various Resources

This year, the Wenvoe Forum members are focusing on ideas around the REUSE (including REPURPOSING) of various resources. As this year’s Tucker’s Spring Plant Sale takes place at the Wenvoe Church Hall soon (Saturday 11 May – 10 am), we thought it would be good to support them (and the Wenvoe Wildlife Group) by having a table offering surplus gardening tools, plant pots and equipment etc. – all looking for a new home. Amongst the other garden bargains there, you’ll be able to choose your plants, sit and have a cuppa and a chat and maybe buy a slice or two of Tucker’s home-made cake and brownies. It’s for a great cause, with all proceeds to the Wenvoe Wildlife Group!

We’ll also be raising awareness of a couple of existing Facebook pages that already support the idea of reusing existing resources – the Wenvoe Recycling & Reuse Group @ https://www.facebook.com/ groups/1870475136410648 and the Wenvoe Buy and Sell pages, @ https://www.facebook.com/ groups/3019469164839088.

Finally, in our linked article this week, a money saving idea in line with the gardening theme courtesy of the Royal Horticultural Society web pages.

How to REUSE spent compost…

It’s not uncommon to have spent compost at the end of each growing season, especially if you grow bulbs or bedding plants in containers. Rather than getting rid of this, which can be difficult and wasteful, there are a handful of ways to reuse it within your garden.

Quick facts…

  • Compost breaks down and compacts over time, so it needs enriching and mixing thoroughly before it can be reused for planting.
  • You may need to add fertiliser if reusing compost for hungry plants like roses

Using spent compost for mulching around established trees and shrubs is good

Getting started…

Soil and spent compost can’t usually be added to green waste bins but our local council recycling centres will accept it. However, finding ways to reuse it in your garden saves you time, money and effort.

The manufacture, transport and packaging of bagged compost has a large carbon footprint, so being able to use it again for growing plants helps save the planet and saves you the cost of buying new compost each time you replant.

What you’ll need to reuse spent compost:

  • Gloves
  • A board or sheet to tip the compost out on
  • Organic matter, like garden compost, leaf mould or well-rotted manure (if replanting)
  • Possibly some other fertiliser
  • A garden fork (if digging-in)
  • A shovel and a rake (if mulching)
  • Focusing On The Reuse Of Various Resources

Top Tip…

Tipping out old compost first lets you assess its condition and decide how best to reuse it. If you find vine weevil larvae when you empty your pots of spent compost, spread the mixture thinly on a tarpaulin or  hard standing and wait for the birds to eat the larvae  as a tasty treat. Once they’ve found them all, sweep up the compost and use as above.

Five ways to reuse spent compost  

1 – Add organic matter and use it again for  planting  

Tip out the spent compost, remove any large sections  of root and work it back to a smooth, fluffy texture  with your hands. Then add handfuls of organic matter,  like garden compost or well-rotted manure, to create a  mixture of around 70% spent compost to 30% new  organic matter. This mixture can now be used for  planting up containers.

2 – Improve your garden soil by digging-in spent  compost  

Though it won’t add much in the way of nutrients, it  will improve soil structure, helping with aeration and  drainage, and in turn will boost soil biodiversity.

3 – Mulch your beds and borders to lock-in  moisture and suppress weeds  

Use a shovel to pile the compost onto your beds and a  metal rake to spread it over the soil to a depth of  around 7.5cm (3in). Over time the mulch will be  worked in by soil organisms, thereby improving the  structure and health of your soil.

4 – Improve the appearance and health of lawns

  Add spent compost as a top dressing in autumn,  mixing it with sand and brushing or raking it into the  holes created by spiking (aerating). Spent compost  can also be used to even out dips and hollows when  repairing lawns.

5 – Boost an existing compost bin or start a new  one  

Even spent compost will contain a variety of soil  organisms that can be put to work breaking down  garden and kitchen waste. If you’ve got lots of spent  compost to add to your compost bin, do this in layers  between other waste. Adding spent compost to the  base of new bins can help kick start the composting  process.

Sources:  

How to reuse spent compost / RHS Gardening

We do hope that you find these ideas and tips useful.  Good luck with your gardening. Please keep a look  out for our other activities, and join us or send  messages on:

Facebook: Gwen Fo @ https://www.facebook.com/  gwen.fo.1/ and Wenvoe Forum @ https://  www.facebook.com/groups/635369267864402  twitter @ForumGwenfo or e-mail –  gwenfo.forum@gmail.com

 

New Forum members are always welcome to join e-mail us e-mail gwenfo.
forum@gmail.com
Contact to us on :-Facebook: Gwen Fo @ https://www.facebook.com/gwen.fo.1/
and Wenvoe Forum @ https://www.facebook.com/groups/635369267864402 or
twitter @ForumGwenfo
See our Blog site https://wenvoeforum.wordpress.com/

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