The Gift of Compost!

12th June 2015

Compost is a great gift to the soil, and when there is plenty Paradise Park is happy to share.

Weeds and spent plants from the gardens, old fruit and banana skins from the bird food kitchen, tea bags and peelings from the café, plus straw and animal waste from the Fun Farm – all combine into a mountain of potential goodness. Local company Ireland Brothers bring machinery to turn the pile, and the rich dark compost in the middle is moved to a convenient place near the plant nursery at the Park.

A lot of compost is used by Head Gardener Mike Kemp and his team, for enriching the soil and mulching in the Victorian walled garden and Parrot Jungle areas. It is also used within the planted aviaries and added to make potting compost to produce plants for sale at the Park.

But this year there was so much that Mike decided that we would ask three local good causes if they would like to take a share. A large lorry took the donated compost to Hayle Allotments at Lethlean Lane, to King George V Memorial Walk for use by Hayle in Bloom, and to Heather Lane Nurseries social enterprise, all glad of the opportunity to improve their soil.