Can I compost old bark chippings

[blithedance]

Last year I got a sack of bark chippings and used some of it to cover the top of large container plants et.c

I thought I would tidy up the containers with some fresh chippings - but the opened bag has decided its a compost bin in the mean time and the chippings have white bits in now where I suppose they have started to decompose.

Any ideas - could I use it as a mulch in present state, put it in composter (not all at once). It's hardly decorative now!

Good question.I reckon they compost well because I laid down bark on membrane for a path in my garden but 3 years later they have turned into crumbly dark soil and a lovely seedbed!

What can I use instead ?

We've had the same white stuff on the bark in our garden (I'm guessing it's the same)
My mum's a bit of a gardener and said it was fine, to carry on digging it in, and it will rot down. The white bits on the surface seem to dry out, it's just the bits from underneath where it's damp.