A COMMUNITY allotment in Exminster has had a boost from a waste management and recycling company.

The allotment at Westbank Community Health and Care received a generous donation of soil improver from the green waste division of Coastal Recycling.

Six tonnes of quality compost created from garden waste was donated to improve the soil for food crops at Westbank’s Community Allotment in Exminster.

The allotment provides an accessible space to support people’s physical and mental health and wellbeing.

It underpins several other Westbank services, including its Community Cookery School, community larders and community café Coffee on the Corner.

A group of gardening volunteers is helping to cultivate the green space on a strip of land behind Westbank’s Healthy Living Centre in Farm House Rise.

Westbank's allotment team helps with the compost delivery. Photo contributed
Westbank's allotment team helps with the compost delivery. Photo contributed (MDA )

Nicole Seeff, Coastal Recycling’s Marketing Manager, said: ‘As a result of a chance encounter at last year’s Exeter Sustainability awards, we became aware Westbank was redeveloping its community allotment to make the space fully accessible and more productive.

‘We immediately realised there was an opportunity for Coastal Recycling to support this initiative by providing soil improver.

‘Coastal Recycling creates high-quality compost from garden matter through a controlled 12-week process. Green garden waste is collected from households and delivered to one of our sites where it’s inspected to remove contaminants such as plastics, metals, glass, stones and invasive weeds.

‘The material is shredded and sanitised for two weeks.

‘This is followed by a 10-week stabilisation phase, producing a darker, nutrient-rich compost.

‘We hope it will help Westbank’s gardening team to cultivate tasty and nutritious fruit and veg.’

Katie Elliott, Westbank’s Head of Fundraising and Marketing, said: ‘We are incredibly grateful for their donation of six tonnes of soil improver.

‘Whilst it’s difficult to put a financial value on this gift, a tonne of soil improver costs between £100 and £150.

‘Coastal Recycling kindly delivered ours directly to the site, where it is helping us grow fresh produce for use throughout the charity.’