From the permaculture Association website
 http://www.permaculture.org.uk/mm.asp?nolinks=y&mmfile=news_GOcelebratespring

Giant Compost Cake at Garden Organic Ryton
Celebrate Spring! March 5th 2006

Visitors will be given a slice of a giant compost cake as part of celebrations for the 20th birthday of Garden Organic Ryton. Europe's largest organic gardening charity, previously the HDRA, will be holding three events to mark the anniversary of these wonderful display gardens in Warwickshire. The colossal birthday cake - made with ten tonnes of compost - will be presented at the first of these events, Celebrate Spring! on Sunday, March 5, from 10am to 5pm.

Ryton officially opened to the public in July, 1986. The charity, then known as HDRA, relocated from Bocking, Essex, because it was felt a more central location would help to boost development. And the move must have worked - membership has risen from 8,000 to more than 31,000 in the last 20 years.

Garden Organic Chief Executive Dr Susan Kay-Williams says: "Ryton has become a fantastic focal point for everyone interested in organic gardening. The site's transformation from empty fields into beautiful display gardens is a major achievement in itself. But more importantly, we want to celebrate the fact that so many visitors have come to Ryton over the last 20 years and learned something that they can take home for their own gardens."

The honour of cutting the giant compost cake will be given to one of the first volunteers from the new Warwickshire Master Composter scheme. Visitors will then be invited to take home a share of the compost cake.

Celebrate Spring! will offer many ideas for gardeners keen to discover the benefits of organic methods. They will be able to see the first spring bulbs in bloom during guided tours of Ryton at 12.30 and 2.30pm, and take part in a seed swap run by the Heritage Seed Library throughout the day.

Visitors will also be able to enjoy a talk on "Successful Seed Sowing" at 11.30am and 2.30pm, learn more about home composting and find out how to take care of their garden tools. Youngsters can join in the fun by decorating plant pots and learning how to sow seeds themselves.

Ryton's birthday celebrations will continue with Tropical Day on Sunday, August 20, from 10am to 5pm. This lively event - also marking the 20th anniversary of the Garden Organic's International Programme - will offer international music, dance, food and workshops.

The festivities will be rounded off with a new Organic Harvest event on Saturday, September 9, from 10am to 5pm. The Heritage Seed Library team will show how they conserve more than 800 old and unusual vegetables and encourage visitors to reap the rewards of growing their own organic food.


To find out more about all of these events visit www.gardenorganic.org.uk. For further information call 024 7630 3517 or email  enquiry@hdra.org.uk.