Clearly there was loads to get stuck into that would continue the job of tidying Mr V’s garden, making it more attractive and usable, just one question puzzled me… how much ivy to remove and how much to leave? All around me, this evergreen plant was thriving, choking the garden beds and climbing the trunks of mature trees.

Wanting to do the right thing both for Mr V and the environment, I made a quick call to get the advice of a local tree expert (wonderful the friends we make at GoodGym sessions!) to help with understanding the recommended approach. I learned that ivy usually does little harm to trees and provides an important habitat especially during bird nesting season, while also capturing carbon all year round. Pulling ivy off a tree damages the bark, so it’s best left undisturbed – or if it really does need to be managed, the stems can be cut at the base of the plant, allowing the ivy’s top growth gradually to die and eventually fall from the tree in a way that avoids habitat disruption.

Feeling much better informed, I concentrated on clearing low-growing ivy from the beds, along with brambles and prunings, then piled everything beside the fence to create a compost heap and bug haven. I also removed an assortment of plastic and other litter from among the greenery, making the area friendlier for wildlife as well as humans.