FREE compost will be dished out to residents at a series of ‘grab a grow bag’ events next month.

Along with a number of other local authorities in the region, Uttlesford District Council sends food waste collected from residents to Cambridgeshire-based waste management company Envar.

Envar turns the food waste into Enrich compost which it sells to farmers for agriculture and supplies to local garden centres for household use.

This soil improver is ideal for use in gardens and can also be used as mulch - and the council is happy to pass it on free of charge.

Green-fingered residents can get their hands on the compost at the following locations and times:

• Saturday May 11 – Chequers Lane Car Park, Great Dunmow, and Lower Street Car Park, Stansted Mountfitchet

• Sunday May 12 – Margaret Street Car Park, Thaxted, and Swan Meadow Car Park, Saffron Walden and

• Saturday May 18 – Station Car Park, Newport

Compost will be available from 9am each day until supplies run out, but no later than 3pm.

The giveaway will operate on a ‘first come, first served’ basis and residents will need to bring their own bags to take the compost away.

Compost will NOT be loaded into vehicles or trailers of any kind and residents are advised to arrive early to avoid disappointment as it has been in very high demand in previous years.