[Hampshire Hog]

Hi all
I seem to have an ants nest in one of my compost bins down the plot.
How do you think I should deal with this.?
a) Ignore them
b) blast with chemicals
c) try to drown them
Appreciate your thoughts
Cheers HH

[mumofstig]

I poured boiling water over those in my garden bin - not quite as easy on the plot 

Or you could get some Nippon bait, that usually works well.

[ptarmigan]

Unless you need to use the compost imminently I'd be tempted to leave them - when I had ants in my compost they made the best compost (unless that was a complete coincidence!).  They moved on when I eventually emptied it.

[JayG]

I'm no Buddhist  but I don't kill any critters which don't harm my plants - ants are very low down the list of troublesome garden pests - most problems are a by-product of their nest building causing root disturbance, which is not a problem in a compost heap.

[Mum2mj]

I find turning the compost helps as there's less likely to be dry areas for them to settle into

[mumofstig]

I don't like ants near crops because they seem to spread aphids about.
Away from my veg garden, they can do as they like 

[greenjay]

I have had them in the compost heap before now. they like it dry so you could water it. I would personally leave them. they do make fine compost

[snowdrops]

I got bitten just under my eye, by an ant from my compost bin the other week. I was emptying some compost out & unknowingly must have disturbed the nest, quite painful, then one got down my gardening glove & I got another bite for trying to get it out

[Hampshire Hog]

Thanks all
looks like ignore them for now and see what is happening when the compost is ready
Cheers HH
PS I'm saving any water for plants at present it is v.warm down here in Hampshire at present!!