Nurturing the world beneath your feet – understanding soil and making compost 2 February 2025 with Sylvia Travers

This course offers a comprehensive overview of soil and how, with good compost, you can really improve your garden. It will cover the basics of soil composition, the complexity of life it contains and how to improve and care for it. Homemade compost is a great soil amendment, so knowing how to make the best of your green waste will have all round benefit.

Course Description
The aim of the course is to reveal the hidden world beneath our feet and provide a basic understanding of soil and its composition, the variety of life it contains and how to care for it.

Compost is an excellent soil improver and, by making your own, you are creating a sustainable and nutritious amendment to help you get the most out of your garden.

Topics covered include how to start a compost heap (what to put in it and getting the mix right), the benefits of making your own compost, plus different types of composting (hot/cold systems, wormeries, woodchip and leaf mould).

Some time will be spent outside in the afternoon looking at the composting system at West Dean Gardens. Questions are welcome throughout the day.

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