Best way to start off compost?

Main thing is to alternate layers of soft stuff (grass clippings) and 'brown' stuff (paper/card/straw) so you don't get a really thick layer of either.

good idea to start it off with a layer of twigs apparently. Suppose it's to get a bit of air in the bottom and to keep the worms from drowning    Don't put cooked food in it and like has already been said, alternate layers of stuff, greens and browns. Dry stuff, like ripped up newspaper and cardboard, bog rolls, bash cabbage stalks and such like before adding it as it can take an eternity to rot down. I bash them with an axe which I recommend you do when in a bad mood     Nettles and comfrey leaves are good to add but I wouldn't add leaves, keep them separate.  Turfs of soil can go in. I add bonfire ash (no plastic or nasties in it though) you could put the contents of the hamster cage, hen droppings etc in there, hoover bag fluff, kitchen scraps (raw only) and peelings, tea bags, old flowers and plants. See, it's full already  

I've already got a dalek in the back garden which is nearly full. It's got a base on it (which I'll take away when I empty it - not that it stopped the worms getting in, there's loads in there!). The compost inside is quite damp so I might try and pull it all out and add some shredded paper to it but I intend to leave it to compost and take all our kitchen waste, grass clippings and shredded paper to the lottie from now on so I wanted to get this heap right.

I found some twigs but decided to keep them for my peas! I've added a layer of straw at the bottom and then mixed more in with the the grass and toilet roll tubes. I'm clearing out the fridge tomorrow so I'm sure I can add some fruit/veg to it.