Compost

CAT's pioneers set up the visitor centre more than 30 years ago on the site of disused slate quarry. Back then there were only pieces of slate and dust on which to grow plants. Compost became a vital ingredient in creating the flourishing gardens we have today. Our compost and soil fertility experiment, which you can view on-site, demonstrates just how important compost is.

Making compost not only produces something useful for your garden, it also reduces the amount you give to the dustman. The composting display is one of our most popular exhibits and gives all sorts of practical tips on composting, including advice on what to include in your compost and a review of the best compost containers. Kids can learn about composting too by slithering down the worm slide or delving into the creepy crawly world of Megan the Mole.

A brand new renewable-energy-powered Rocket composter has recently been installed at the Centre. This allows us to compost waste from our restaurant and community in record time.

Look out for the compost toilet too. It's a real working example and we welcome contributions from visitors! The innovative, single-chambered design is hygienic and relatively smell-free. It is intended for both rural and urban use. To be on the safe side we don't place the resulting compost close to food crops, but it makes excellent fertiliser for fruit trees.