An innovative scheme to get more people involved in composting this summer is searching for volunteers.

The Kingston Community Compost Network has teamed up with London Community Recycling Network (CRN) to deliver courses in how to start composting and it needs compost mentors to help spread the word.

There are currently 14 trained mentors in Kingston and a free training session has been organised on Saturday, June 28, for people willing to share their expertise with others across the borough.

The training, being held at the Kingston Vale Leisure Gardeners’ Association site in Robin Hood Way, will encompass presentation skills, health and safety tips and how to manage an event and book attendees.

Gloria Wallis has been an allotment holder at the Beverley Park allotments, New Malden, for 24 years, and attended a session run by compost mentors last year.

She said: "It was an extremely good idea. We had a talk about composting and what items you can and cannot put into the compost bins.

"It was very informative – even for someone like me who has been composting for 24 years – because people do have a lot of questions.

"Composting is important – it helps the soil and stops so much food going to waste."

Edouard Guidon, from the London CRN, said recruiting compost mentors from Kingston would give a "local flavour" to the advice given to residents and would allow people to share their knowledge.

"All of the events are run by mentors and we really want to spread the word about composting and help people get started," he said.

"A recent report said that 40 per cent of people who bought a compost bin give up within a year, so it’s really important for people to have support and someone they can go to so they can carry on with composting if there are any problems."

For more information and to book a place on the training scheme, call Alex Rainbow on 020 7324 4690 or email compost@lcrn.org.uk.