The message
from Rick McGreal contains these words:

Kay Easton wrote in
:

I have had a compost heap for getting on a year now and there is very
little in the way of worms in there....Quite a few woodlice (Not sure if
thats good or not) but precious few wormies....

Too dry. If you make it damper, you will rid yourself of the woodlice
and you'll start getting worms.

Now this is a complete turnaround.....Not 4 months ago It was too wet..(It
simply stank!)
Now its too dry!
Sheesh!
Talk about swings and roundabouts!! B-)

Well, you have to manage your compost heaps a little bit. Covering
them (old corrugated iron will do) stops the rain leaching the compost
and making it over soggy. A heap in the making will get enough moisture
from green material added to it. A full, cooled heap (the stage when you
add worms for speed) needs a look at now and then; if it's too dry (ant
nest activity; material not breaking down, worms all gone to the bottom
) it needs damping with some water or urine or comfrey tea.

Janet.