For an extra boost of plant nutrients, Dalefoot Composts now has peat-free compost with comfrey, made in the Lake District. Now the Wool Compost range features sheep’s wool, bracken and comfrey, feeding plants for at least a season. The compost also needs less watering, as wool retains moisture, and the Soil Association approves it for organic gardening.
Comfrey is a plant superfood, with very long roots, it can absorb nutrients deep in the soil as it grows. When harvested and added to compost or a traditional comfrey tea, the nutrients encourage strong, healthy growth.
It’s taken the team five years to grow the plant on a commercial scale, sustainably on the farm. Comfrey can be harvested four times a year, so there is plenty to meet the demand for premium composts.
Sourcing bracken
The company is now sourcing bracken from Exmoor, Northumberland and Wales, as well as Cumbria, helping farming communities and landscapes.
Bracken is invasive, but when harvested sustainably and composted, it provides potash and acts as a fantastic soil conditioner. Sheep farmers are benefiting too, as they have a market for a product they struggle to sell.
Dalefoot’s peat-free products use a fully-traceable, sustainable blend of wool, bracken and comfrey. Wool slowly releases nitrogen and other nutrients, which, when combined with bracken and comfrey, means no further feed is needed.
‘A remarkable plant’
Professor Jane Barker of Dalefoot Composts said: “Comfrey is a remarkable plant offering a multitude of uses. We’re excited to grow it right here on the farm for our compost. We’ll be looking at how we can use it in other products for the gardener in the future. Our farm’s bees, insects and wildlife are also benefiting from the biodiversity boost the new comfrey fields and their nectar-rich flowers bring to the local environment.”
Over the past year, production has doubled at Dalefoot, with 177 garden centres and nurseries now stocking its products. The Dalefoot team also restores peat bogs for the likes of Natural England, NatureScot, South West Water and wildlife trusts.
Storing carbon
Peat bogs store more carbon than forests. Many in the UK are in poor condition, releasing carbon, not storing it. This work equates to 1 million tonnes of carbon emissions. That’s the equivalent of 500,000 flights from London to New York saved since Dalefoot started two decades ago.
Wool Compost is available in Potting, Seeds, Vegetables & Salads, Tomatoes, Double Strength and Ericaceous. Please note – Wool Compost Ericaceous, Lakeland Gold, and Bulb Compost do not contain comfrey. For more on peat-free compost with comfrey and stockist details, visit www.dalefootcomposts.co.uk.
