The very extensive garden is a mess.

I also have a large garden - mostly grass for easy maintenance (which is John's department and he has a ride-on mower, I do the flowers) and I have a small 'wild' area in the far corner next to the boundary wall and I am having a huge problem with brambles bl**dy Spanish bluebells and wild raspberries (also bindweed, nettles, rose bay willow herb and suchlike) coming through the drystone wall and taking root in my lawn and smothering my wild garden.  I see there is also some bamboo over there, but so far its stayed over the wall in the other garden.   In  my wild garden I have some lovely self seeded cowslips which have done well this year as well as bluebells and primroses and violets - all self seeded - and I see a few wild strawberries coming too.

The invading rubish from next door is getting too much for me.  I know no-one's going to come and clear it all up, it would take a small jcb digger to do the job properly now, the place is a jungle - but I'm at my wit's end keeping on top of it.  I'm 80 years old with arthritis but I do love my garden and take a great pride in keeping it tidy and colourful but this is beginning to get me down.

I know I can cut overhanging branches, but I'm not strong enough to cut through the thick branches with my loppers - it needs a chain saw and a sharp axe.   John promises to 'have a go at  it' some day but you know what farmers are like when it comes to gardns, they're something for the little lady to do to keep herslef busy (bah).

Do you think a letter to the Parish concil would do any good?  I'm not a regular church gower, and look young for my age, so they'll think I'm fit enough to cope, but after two hours pulling out creepers and brambles this afternoon my back is killing me and frankly I could cry.

I feel like pouring weedkiller over the wall and into the jungle on the other side.