It is no surprise that damaged fruit rots fastest. So it is with your compost. Cut or bruise the green stuff to make quick and friable compost.

• Find a way to damage any compostable waste eg. run a lawn mower over it or cut into small pieces

• Shred twigs and stalks – I use an electric shredder but secateurs are just as good.

• Chop up any hard stems or long shoots with secateurs to about one inch lengths.

• Leaves and other plant matter will rot quicker if the bugs and bacteria can get at them from more than just one end. So the more cutting, bruising, shredding, tearing, scrunching or chopping the better.

• A chipper can do the bruising job quicker and a mulching device can be added to new lawn mowers.