The Firs, the birthplace of Sir Edward Elgar is going green making their own compost.

A donation of a wormery to the gardening team, who look after the cottage garden, means kitchen scraps can be recycled.

The wormery was kindly donated by Bubblehouse Worm Farm in Bransford, Worcester who aim to promote sustainability through global ‘worming’.

“Our aim is to encourage sustainable living and inspire people to turn their food waste into something wonderful,” said Ken Nelson of  Bubblehouse Worm Farm. “and believe no food should be wasted.”

Worms are not only essential to plant growth, but are also the most effective way of converting your food waste into nutrient rich worm casts, natures finest fertiliser. Kitchen scraps, fallen fruit and waste paper are added to the wormery where the worms work their magic.

“By recycling the waste from the kitchen,” said Dawne Middleton, The Firs Gardener. “we will be able to produce first class, nutrient rich compost in an environmentally sustainable way and use it to enrich the soil within all areas the garden, we will also show our wiggly friends to any inquisitive little learners who want to take a peek.” 

In the future The Firs are hoping to hold wormery workshops so that they can share this fantastic eco friendly idea with their visitors.

The Firs is open seven days a week. Opening hours are 10am – 5pm and the site includes exhibition rooms, a modern tea-room, pretty cottage gardens and the jewel in the crown, the birthplace itself. There are also country walks in the surrounding landscape which are available to pick up for free from reception with another set coming soon. There is free parking right outside the visitor centre with picnic spots. Dogs are welcome on leads across the whole site apart from inside the tea-room and the cottage.

For more information please call: 01905 333330 or visit the website www.nationaltrust.org.uk/the-firs