When we bought our house 13 years ago, the garden comprised of neat grass, three vines growing up the house, a large walnut tree and a very old plum tree.

Now it has numerous bushes, trees, herbs, roses, plants in pots, patios, veggie patch, gravel, and pond. Also bindweed, thistles, nettles, brambles, dock, mullein, greenfly, blackfly, wilt, rust, scab, an army of baby rhus and uncontrollable bamboo and forsythia.

The previous owner could spend long summer afternoons sitting quietly, listening to the birds, soaking up the sun. We spend them weeding, trimming, mowing, tugging, watering, clipping, pruning, spraying, wheelbarrowing.

Amongst our gardening tools and associated paraphernalia are mower, strimmer, branch loppers,shears,secateurs, stakes, netting, sprays, slug bait, fertilizer, ladders, wheelbarrows.

The previous owner’s gardening equipment: 5 sheep.

If I could turn back the clock, that’s what I’d have too.