A TEAM of volunteers that encourages gardeners to compost has been honoured with a top award.

The Oxfordshire Master Composter group won the Group Achievement Award from charity Garden Organic.

The scheme was set up in 2008 and since then has trained 62 volunteers to promote the benefits of composting.

They are trained by the Oxfordshire Waste Partnership, which works on behalf of councils to promote green initiatives.

Activities include visiting schools, giving talks, speaking to householders and promoting composting at events.

It is estimated the group have spent more than 2,500 hours speaking to about 48,500 people at more than 400 events.

Chairman David Dodds said: “We’re immensely proud of our volunteer master composters.

“Oxfordshire councils support home composting as it’s good for the environment and our gardens, but without the efforts of our master composters we wouldn’t have been able to help anywhere near as many people.

“It’s great that they’ve been recognised with this award.”

For more information call Eiles Robinson on 01865 815908.