This new innovative Wirral project is turning community waste into fertile land

Local not-for-profit organisation Earth Moves has launched an innovative environmental project to transform four acres of land into a biodiverse and regenerative community space.

The project will use a permaculture technique called hügelkultur to divert over four tonnes of local food waste, cardboard, and paper annually, turning it into nutrient-rich soil. Hügelkultur is a gardening technique where raised beds are created by planting on mounds made from decaying wood, cardboard and other compostable materials.

Based in Wallasey, the community-driven initiative aims to provide a tangible, low-cost solution to climate change while empowering local residents to take practical action in changing waste habits by learning composting skills they can use at home. Over a 12-month timeline, the project will engage the community through a series of hands-on activities, workshops, and educational outreach programs. Key objectives include preventing waste, increasing soil fertility, and creating an educational model that other communities can replicate.

Credit: Merseyside Recycling and Waste Authority

The project has received £7698 through the Zero Waste Community Fund 2025/26 which is managed by Merseyside Recycling and Waste Authority and Veolia. The Fund aims to increase reuse, waste reduction, recycling, and sustainability across the region.

“This project is a critical intervention in times of environmental crisis,” said Paula Staunton, Project Lead and Director at Earth Moves. “By turning waste into a resource, we’re not just regenerating the land; we are building a resilient, informed, and empowered community that can take meaningful action against climate change.”

The project is aiming to directly engage with over 800 people, including local residents and businesses, and will generate an estimated 5,200 volunteer hours. Volunteers will receive training in sustainable practices like composting and permaculture, with support provided for expenses and mentoring.

Earth Moves recently (October 11^th) held a hands‑on workshop on the site, where visitors were shown how to turn waste cardboard into a no‑dig meadow — a simple, eco‑friendly method suitable even for smaller garden patches. Using reclaimed cardboard, they demonstrated how to suppress weeds, build healthy soil, and prepare the ground for wildflowers and grasses without the need for digging or chemicals.

Lesley Worswick, Chief Executive of MRWA, said:

“Projects like this one are crucial in delivering useful information directly to residents and helping make positive changes in behaviour. We’re really looking forward to seeing how it develops.”