West Cornwall Workshops
The first compost workshop was held in Penzance on Wednesday 21st October. The turnout was excellent, and it seems that everyone really enjoyed the experience (according to the feedback forms). During the workshop we covered various topics from the reasons why composting matters, to bacteria and nematodes, greens and browns, compost activators and how to keep rats away form your compost.
Julia Pollard from WRAP came along to help, and she brought a compost game which was a really fun way to learn more about what you can and can’t compost. We also set up a compost bin in the venue’s garden, and gathered quite a few things to compost, including the tea bags and banana skins from our morning break. The handbook given to mentors is available to download.
Throughout October and November CWA held 3 more workshops in Penzance and Falmouth. The turnout was once more excellent and we now have 60 active compost mentors in West Cornwall. If each of them mentors 2 people as planned, there could be an extra 180 people composting in West Cornwall by April 2010. The Compost Mentors seemed very motivated. We wish them the best of luck with spreading the word about composting.
Events and Media:
CWA have also been spreading the word about composting at various events, such as the Swanpool and Beacon fun days in Falmouth, Penryn Fair, Penwith Green Fair, and the garden open day at the Lescudjack Centre in Penzance.
The scheme received good media coverage this autumn with articles in the Cornishman, the West Briton, Grow Your Own and ads in 5 major local newspapers. The project was also covered by local radio stations – Pirate FM, The Source and Radio Cornwall. Radio Cornwall did a substantial story about the scheme and did 3 interviews which were broadcast as part as the main morning news.
