Composting scheme, Spring 2023
(pictures below)

Berwick’s Coronation, Castle Vale and Flagstaff Parks were awarded ‘outstanding’ in the Royal Horticultural Society’s (RHS) In Bloom Awards in 2022. Following that success, the Friends of Castle Parks were encouraged to apply for a grant from the RHS to create composting schemes in Coronation and Castle Vale Parks.
   The Friends are delighted that their application for £2,500 was successful. Work is now underway in Castle Vale Park on the creation of the first scheme.

Northumberland County Council Parks Officer Kate Dixon says, ‘We are delighted that the Friends have received this award from the RHS and it’s a pleasure to work with the wonderful gardening volunteers to create composting bins in both Castle Vale and Coronation Parks.’

   Chair of the Friends Jackie Kaines Lang says: ‘The project will save money and support our green agenda. Once the composts are up and running, Kate and the gardening volunteers can recycle a lot more garden waste produced by their work and return it the ground as mulch once it’s composted.’ As part of the project, the Friends will be organising a couple of education sessions with composting expert Andrew Davenport from Gardener’s Cottage in Bingfield, Northumberland later this year.

   The Friends provide practical and financial support to Northumberland County Council (NCC) in the upkeep of the parks through volunteers gardening and raising funds for purchasing plants and materials. Jackie Kaines Lang says, ‘We are incredibly fortunate to have Kate here in Berwick and the partnership between NCC and the Friends brings great benefits to our parks and the town as a whole.