Contest organisers praise Dorset company for soil donation   (posted 06/07/2007)

Organisers of a skills competition for budding landscape gardeners have praised a Dorset organic recycling firm for donating 30 tonnes of topsoil.

Thanks to the actions of Eco Composting (Eco) the regional heat of the UKSkills landscaping contest was able to go-ahead at Sparsholt Agricultural College near Winchester.

Six teams of four students from as far afield as Northern Ireland pitted their skills against each other in a day-long competition.

They had to turn a garden design from paper to the real thing in the space of just six hours.

The contest was organised through the British Association of Landscaping Industry (Bali).

Peter Killen, Technical Director, said Eco had stepped in “at the eleventh hour” after another company supplying the topsoil had pulled out.

“We’re very appreciative to Eco for coming to our rescue,” he added.

Justin Dampney, Eco’s Business and Marketing Manager, said the compost enriched topsoil donated by the company - ‘Eco Supersoil’ – was ideal for the contest.

“It is manufactured to BS3882 standard and perfect for landscaping,” said Justin.

The contest’s advanced team winner – Sparsholt College – will now go through to the finals at Windsor in September.

ENDS

Picture caption: Coming to the rescue: Justin Dampney, Eco’s Business and Marketing Manager (left) and Andy Hill, Eco’s Sales and Marketing Director.

Editor’s Note: Founded in 1994, Eco Composting is one of the UK’s leading organics recycling firms, annually processing 120,000 tonnes of material on its 14-acre site at Parley, Dorset. End products include turf, enriched topsoil, compost and woodchip. Eco employs 23 staff and recorded a £3.5m turnover in the year to December 31, 2006.

For more information please contact Justin Dampney, Business and Marketing Manager, Eco Composting, on 01202 593601 or Andrew Diprose, PR Account Director, Deep South Media on 01202 534487.