URGENT PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE USE 25 March 2002

 OPEN TALK TO HIGHLIGHT BENEFITS OF FARM COMPOSTING

Creating compost for farming is the subject of a talk by a consultant with an unusual wealth of practical experience. Chris Ward of the Laggan based Composting Consultancy will be giving the talk ‘Composting For Organic Farmland’ and leading an open discussion in Nethybridge Church Hall next Wednesday (3 April) at 7.30pm.

SWAN the Strathspey Waste Action Network and BSCG the Badenoch and Strathspey Conservation Group are together organising the meeting which is open to everybody and at which refreshments will be provided.

Spokesperson for the event organisers Gus Jones said "we are delighted that Chris has accepted an invitation to speak to us so soon after moving into the district. Few people have anything like his varied, up to date and in depth experience of composting on farmland and other situations in the north east. This meeting will be particularly interesting to everyone involved in composting and organic farming. Compostable waste forms a high proportion of our rubbish, and finding common sense local solutions to this is vital".

Increased local composting was recently given the thumbs up by the public in a major consultation on the future for waste in the Highlands. Composting is set to play an important part in the Highland Area Waste Plan that is being drafted for approval this autumn.

The organisers of next Wednesdays meeting point out that while returning organic material to the land to improve soil structure and fertility has a long tradition, today there is a wealth of new thinking and new techniques. There are also new rules to work with that aim to protect the public and the environment.

Spokesperson Gus Jones commented "there are good economic and environmental reasons for making compost to sound standards, including opportunities for branding and marketing local produce. Composting organic waste whether at home for the garden or at a farm scale offers valuable opportunities and all round benefits".

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For further information please contact Gus Jones tel/fax  01479 821491