COMMUNITY groups are blooming thanks to Bolton's householders recycling their food and garden waste.

More than a dozen groups across the borough are growing fruit, vegetables and plants in compost produced by Recycle for Greater Manchester and Viridor which have donated around 13 tonnes of Revive Multi-Purpose Compost to Bolton community organisations since May, 2015.

Those which have benefited include: The Hive, Moss Bank Park, Hall i'th'Wood Community and Environment Group, Hall i'th'Wood, Halliwell UCAN Centre, Hideaway Community Garden, Farnworth, Bolton Urban Growers Community Group, Willow Hey Community Garden, Willow Hey Community, Gardening on your doorstep, Johnson Fold Community Action, Florence Avenue Allotments, Halliwell Community Food Plot, Good Companions Last Allotment, Brazley Community Gardens and Friends of Moss Bank Park.

And more are invited to apply for bags of compost.

The high quality multi-purpose peat-free compost is made from Greater Manchester’s household food and garden waste and is an example of closed loop recycling in action.

The community projects that received the donations are putting it to good use, growing vegetables, fruit and plants. Most of which gets enjoyed by the community as a whole.

Charlotte Yates Project Officer, Lancashire Wildlife Trust at the Hive said: “We have used the compost donated by Viridor with volunteer groups for raised beds and planters and all that we grow in these will be used for educational cooking activities with community groups on our outdoor cooking pit. We teach local people how to make delicious and nutritious meals from veg they can grow at home.”

Susan Whittle, volunteer at Hall i'th'Wood Community and Environment Group added: “The donation has been brilliant and we really appreciate it.

"We used the compost on everything we planted, and will use it for mulch on the roses.

"Everything we use on the garden is organic, so peat-free compost that was made from Bolton households recycled food and garden waste was a great fit for us. The garden is a well-used and a much loved communal space for local people, so many have benefitted from the donation.”

There is a limited amount of compost available for donation, applicants must be a community project based in Greater Manchester and apply before March 31, 2016.

For more information contact jbolger@viridor.co.uk

Residents can go to go Raikes Lane Industrial Estate, Salford Road Recycling Centre, or Heaton Fold Garden Centre and purchase bags of Revive compost.