Please note that our online waste system is down for maintenance from
8pm Tuesday 5th July for approximately 2 hours. We apologise for any inconvenience.
Do not drink the water from the tanks or standpipes
Wear gloves whenever handling soil, compost, fertiliser or pesticides. Thin latex (or latex-free for allergy sufferers) gloves can be worn for delicate work
Do not open bags of compost or potting media with your head right over it
Fold over the top of compost bags when not in use
Avoid potting-up in confined spaces
Moisten dry potting media before use. Also dampen down dry compost heaps before turning or use
Consider wearing a dust mask when turning compost heaps and handling potting media or other dusty materials
Avoiding storing potting media in greenhouses as these will heat up and may encourage Legionella
Empty the water out of garden hoses after use and do not leave full hoses in the sun after use
Avoid splashing water around when watering pots
Wear gloves and keep arms covered when pruning plants that can cause irritations; e.g. ivy (Hedera), Fremontodendron, Euphorbia or rue (Ruta)
Only shred woody prunings in an open, well-ventilated area
Ensure tetanus jabs are up to date. Otherwise, see your local GP for a tetanus vaccination if you have cut yourself on a plant or got soil or manure in an open wound
Discourage rats by securing rubbish in bins and not putting cooked food on the compost heap
Rat-proof compost bins with wire mesh if necessary. To reduce the risks from salmonella avoid using rat-infested compost on edible crops, especially those not cooked before consumption
Protect from water-borne diseases such as Weil’s disease by wearing waterproof gloves, clothing and boots when clearing out ponds
Always wash your hands after gardening and especially before eating
Keep a hand sterilising gel down in the potting shed if clean water is not available
Children should always be accompanied by an adult and supervised on site