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Dig It, Grow It, Cook It, Eat It! challenge starts with great compost giveaway
Green fingered school children across Somerset are celebrating National Home Composting Week (3rd – 9th May) with a share of fifty tonnes of free compost, thanks to a new competition initiated by leading waste and recycling management company Viridor and organised by the Somerset Waste Action Programme (SWAP).
Fifty lucky schools were first to a register for “Dig It, Grow It, Cook It, Eat It!”, a challenge to establish vegetable gardens in school grounds. Each of the schools will receive one tonne of Revive Soil Conditioner delivered free by Viridor, along with six packets of seasonal vegetable seeds. The fifty schools are being asked to keep diaries recording their progress, with further prizes for the most imaginative and exciting developments being awarded in the autumn.
Rupert Farthing, SWAP team manager explained the competition. “When Viridor got in touch to propose the challenge we were pleased to take it forward. As it says, “Dig It, Grow It, Cook It, Eat It!” is all about young people understanding and appreciating the full food cycle – that healthy food is not just something that arrives pre packed on a supermarket shelf, and that leftovers from the garden and kitchen are not just rubbish, but could be the beginnings of good, rich compost.”
Kevin Bishop, regional recycling manager from Viridor explained why they were keen to support local schools. "Helping children grow their own vegetables in compost made from 100 per cent natural organic materials, recycled straight from the homes and gardens of Somerset, North Somerset and North Dorset, is a wonderful demonstration of the perfect recycling loop. Compost encourages new growth and we've taken this idea further with our Revive product by helping some incredible gardening projects in the local community and encouraging schoolchildren to become inspired gardeners."
“Dig It, Grow It, Cook It, Eat It!” will run until the end of the autumn and winning schools will receive cash and vouchers to help them develop their school gardens.
For more information on recycling and waste in Somerset, including advice on how you can reduce the amount you produce, log on to www.somersetwaste.gov.uk
Notes to Editors:
About Somerset Waste Action Programme (SWAP):
SWAP are a waste and resource education team based at Carymoor Environmental Centre and funded by Somerset Waste Partnership. SWAP team embers can be booked for educational visits and talks for community groups. To arrange a SWAP visit call 01963 351350.
About Somerset Waste Partnership:
Somerset Waste Partnership manages waste and recycling services on behalf of all local authorities in Somerset.
The fifty winning schools are: All Saint's Primary, Ansford School, Ashill Primary School, Brookside Primary, Burnham Infants School, Castle School, Chewton Mendip Primary, Chilton Trinity Technology College, Court Fields School, Creech St Michael Primary, Crowcombe First School, Cutcombe First School, East Brent First School, Evercreech Primary School, Grass Royal Juniors, Greenfylde Primary, Hamp Community School, Haselbury Plucknett Primary, Haygrove School, Holyrood School, Hugh Sexey Middle School, Kingsbury Episcopi Primary, Kingsdon Primary, Ladymead Community School, Lovington Primary, Mark First School, Martock Primary, Merriott First School, North Cadbury Primary, Norton Fitzwarren Primary, Norton St Philip First School, Pen Mill Infant School, Redstart Primary School, Rode First School, Selwood Middle School, Sexey's School, Shapwick School, Somerset Bridge Primary, Spaxton Primary, St Andrew's Junior School, St Augustine's School, St George's Catholic School, St Joseph's Catholic Primary, Stogumber First School, Walton Primary School, Wells Central Juniors, West Buckland Primary, West Chinnock Primary, West Somerset Community College, Westonzoyland School
Revive is made from garden waste collected from the kerbside or Household Waste Recycling Centres. It is available to the public at competitive rates in a range of sizes including 40 litre bags, dumpy bags and large bulk quantities which can be collected or delivered, please contact us on enquiries@viridor.co.uk or telephone 0845 0945 910.
30 April 2009
For further details contact Mark Blaker
01823 625714
Email: Mark.blaker@somersetwaste.gov.uk
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