how to start a compose bin

Hi Linton, welcome to GOY.
You can get 4 palettes free from your local builder. You need 8 ties, two on each corner, put the palettes up in the place where you want to have your compost bin. 4 palettes make a cube. Fill it as you get mowings etc. But if you want to fill it now get a load of stable manure, 1 cubic metre. Put in 4inch layers, spread a dressing of carbonate of lime, water in. Cover the top with compost. If you have 6ins. left at the top, you can use it as a heated frame, for sweet peas and onions, covered with a clean polythene sheet.

Will anything make a home in this over winter?

Any compost heap in which you put waste food is likely to attract unwanted visitors. It is easy to pour Jeyes Fluid around the outside and check for any holes. Mice, rats and squirrels can be trapped and released elsewhere.

Other way is course woody material in the bottom, then alternating layers, about 4-6inches thick of, grass, veg peelings, shredded newspaper etc. Dont pile it to much with grass or else it will go wet soggy and stagnant and not do anything.
Also make sure it stays damp but not dry!
Full sun is the best position to aid it cooking quicker

The word is 'compost' LOL I've got two of the plastic Darlec type ones. The local council was giving out vouchers for them so they only cost about £9 I think. Might be worth giving your council a call to see if they run a similar scheme.

BTW, there have been LOTS of questions asked about compost bins on here - if you type 'compost' into the GoY search bar you will find lots of information.

I got my composter from my local council too, special offer they had running

xx x