No Fence: New Fence: No Offense

M and I arrived on our orchard plot this morning to discover that there was no fence between us and the adjacent back gardens.  Three workmen had sunk the concrete poles for a new metal mesh one.   Our 'wildlife hedge' had been reduced.  The men had cut back an invasive creeper commonly known as 'Mile a minute' or Russian vine (Polygonum baldschuanicum) and also some honeysuckle which had landed on our side.  Wildlife, in the form of a friendly robin was showing an interest in the proceedings.   

Removal of shared vegetation was not in the spec.  Fortunately M was already armed with the loppers (we had been intending to prune that morning) so we changed task.

From ten till twelve, or thereabouts, M and I set about filling two brown recycling bins with what was now garden rubbish.  When we had finished M took the bins back and I spiked the muddy grass paths with a fork to assist drainage.

When I was a student teacher a decade ago, part of the assessment process was 'reflection on practice'.  This is the practice I had today:

• You do not always know what you are going to find when you arrive on the job.  But it pays to be polite.
• 'Mile a minute' and honeysuckle can be told apart reasonably well, but it helps the student if this is pointed out sooner rather than later.
• A tougher pair of gloves or even gauntlets would make a good Christmas present.
• When you chop stuff up small you can fit more in.  Bashing it with a spade also helps.  Please exercise caution while doing this.
• Old blackberry canes (even the non-cultivated ones) should really be cut out at the end of each season.  If you can reach them.
• Make the most of every opportunity.  I look forward to training the honeysuckle over a nice new fence.