It's been a long time since we last helped out at The Exchange in Erith, so it was great to be back.

The Exchange has a wonderful garden, and we'd been asked to help turn a large compost heap by moving its contents from a full pen into the empty one next door.

First, we needed to clear away nettles and brambles, and collect discarded flower pots and litter to give ourselves better access. So it was on with the heavy-duty gloves and out with the secateurs and litter pickers! This didn't take long, and soon we were ready for the main event.

If you've never moved compost, you might be surprised just how hard work it is! We certainly got a good workout as we forked the material from one side to the other. As part of the process, we also cut small twigs and stems into shorter pieces to help them rot down more quickly. Anything thicker than a pencil was picked out and tossed into one-tonne bags to be disposed of elsewhere.

In our allotted time, we managed to turn over about half the compost, so there may well be a return visit to finish the job.

Karen, manager at The Exchange, seemed very pleased with our efforts and rewarded us with hot drinks in the lovely coffee bar. It was a welcome chance to sit and chat over hot chocolates and coffees before heading home, tired but happy!