THE Easter weekend is traditionally time for gardeners to venture out on to their plots to prepare for the coming season's production. We do it for fun, to grow fresh food and for healthy exercise.

So it is a shame that, on Good Friday, someone nearby chose to have a smoky bonfire. Then, on Easter Monday, we were again forced into the house by another garden-user's bonfire.

We are all being encouraged to recycle our waste and to compost garden waste, yet some people still burn this material. When they do they give us carcinogenic particulates to breathe, stinky drying washing, children with stinging eyes and a memory of a spoilt weekend.

I'm not a killjoy or "anti-fires" person. My neighbour has about six social bonfires each year, after dark using a brazier and dry wood so there is little smoke and no problems.

I heat our house with woodstoves using "clean burn" technology, to enable us to replace fossil-fuel use with renewable waste logs.

But smoky bonfires are such a drag. Perhaps these people don't read the Press and don't know there is free help and advice for anyone wishing to know the "secrets of composting".

York Rotters are waiting to hear from you. Ring Sara Goodhead on 01904 551503 for details. Meanwhile, I look forward to helping locals start, or restart, a compost heap, so this particular Rotter can enjoy some smoke-free gardening next Bank Holiday weekend.

John Cossham,

Hull Road, York.

Updated: 10:17 Thursday, March 31, 2005