Compost heaps are frequently overlooked, but they are one of the most important areas in a wildlife friendly garden. The compost heap provides numerous benefits for the whole garden – a garden that is sanctuary for nature – and for You. This light-hearted poem from the compost heap celebrates the humble compost heap, and its valuable role in recycling kitchen and garden waste, improving the soil with nutrients and helping your plants to grow.
An Ode to a Compost Heap
Hello, I am a compost heap,
The heart of every fine garden;
I process all your vegetable waste
And moldy fruit into the bargain.
Every garden needs a compost heap
To keep the plants well fed;
I mulch and rot and mix about
With beetles and worms living in my bed.
The kitchen scraps and garden weeds
Are all welcome here;
Some old dead leaves and mowings too
Can be offered to me with no fear.
A good mixed diet of greens and browns
Layered softly in my hold;
With a light mixing every few weeks
Results in pure compost precious as gold.
Many thanks to Garden Perks for contributing this poem.
The compost heap is a living ecosystem and a refuge for wildlife. Deep beneath its surface, microorganisms, fungi, beetles, worms and insects, change the garden and kitchen waste, the garden leaves, the lawn mowings, into a nutrient-rich compost that improves soil and your plants will love it. What may seem to be a neglected compost heap in the corner of the garden, in reality it is a community of wildlife working together for the benefits of the whole garden.
Composting is a part of a natural style garden, as well as way of recycling garden and kitchen waste for the benefit of both plants and soil. Gardeners can create a rich habitat for wildlife in their garden. This idea of a wildlife friendly garden is at the centre of my philosophy of the wildlife garden.
Further information on composting
If you’re new to composting, you might be interested in reading our beginners guide to making a compost heap.
A compost heap doesn’t have to be hidden away in the garden. In my article on wildlife friendly garden design, I include an illustrated plan showing how compost bins can be placed naturally in the garden layout.
For more practical advice on composting, the Royal Horticultural Society provides excellent information on starting and maintaining a compost heap at home.
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