Canny composting with hotbins and bokashi

Reader Steve Watkin from County Durham explains why new skills and sustainability make growing such a joy

There’s something indestructible lurking in the compost bin, says Clare Hunt

Four years ago, Joy Lewty, 62, from Garforth, Leeds, was handed a pack of seeds. That simple gesture set in motion a chain of events that would change her life.

The theme for this year’s National Allotments Week, from 11 to 17 August, is Wellbeing. Five women reveal how their lives have changed for the better by spending time on their plot

Andrew Oldham is busy bringing together vegetables and flowers to make the most of a sloping site

A wooden slatted bin keeps the garden waste and compost in and allows air circulation and access for wildlife. Kits are available to buy or you can build your own using old pallets or timber offcuts.