Westbury locals get their hands dirty for Wiltshire Wildlife Trust project

AT their family event in Greenacres Park in Westbury last month, Wiltshire Wildife Trust (WWT)  were helping children discover and take a closer look at the creepy crawlies hiding in our composts.  Centipedes, earthworms and earwigs all put in an appearance.  

Environmental and waste education officer at WWT, Gail Grimes said, “The children were mad about minibeasts and loved taking a closer look. The centipedes were especially popular.”

Other activities included planting sunflower seeds in mini greenhouses made out of plastic drink-bottles, clay ‘bug’-modelling, litter-picking and creating grass heads.

The morning of free family fun is part of a series of workshops, events and school activities in the Westbury area organised by Wiltshire Wildlife Trust and funded by Wiltshire Council to encourage people to produce less rubbish and re-use and recycle more.

Spokesperson for the team, Jessica Thimbleby said, “Last year Wiltshire Council spent over £4million on landfill tax (£80 per tonne of rubbish).  With every household in Wiltshire producing about a tonne of rubbish for landfill each year, that’s a lot of money spent on rubbish.

“Composting is one way to reduce your rubbish and is a simple means of recycling fruit, vegetable and garden waste.  It gives you free compost for your garden and encourages wildlife by creating a minibeast paradise.  Between one-third and two-thirds of our rubbish can be composted and saved from going to landfill.

“Wildlife conservation and our lifestyles are closely linked. Rethinking our rubbish is an important part of creating a sustainable future.  Manufacturing ‘disposable’ items such as plastic bottles and cardboard cartons uses resources and energy and also creates mountains of rubbish.  It’s likely your household waste will contain materials that could be reused or recycled – from shoes, clothes, jewellery, kitchen scraps to cans, glass jars, paper and plastic bottles.

“We’d love to hear from you if you are passionate about recycling and reducing your rubbish and would like to get involved in Westbury.

Please contact Jessica Thimbleby at jessicat@wiltshire wildlife.org or call 01380 736077. For more information about composting, visit: www.wiltshirewildlife.org/green-living/home_of_home_composting.htm