On a bright, bright sun-shiny day, two runners went to clear a garden impenetrable with brambles, weeds and spikey shrubs. On arrival, we wondered how the task was to be achieved as it turned out there were no tools on site. But no sooner had we started to ponder this scenario, than Dave from the Housing Association turned up with everything we might need and more.

Now equipped with a range of blades, we set forth to the garden where the brambles rose up to greet us as we opened the door. Everything in sight had vicious spikes, including the young acacia trees stretching above head height. We had seen friendlier cacti.

Undaunted, we quickly cut through the stems and branches with shears, lobbers and chain saw (operated by Dave from the housing association), bagging everything up as we worked. Within an hour and a half, we could see the ground and garden fence again and had 4 tonne bags to show for our efforts.