Stumped by the fir trees

Three soggy runners arrived at Joyce's home to finish sorting out her garden, after other GoodGymmers had done what we thought was the brunt of the work on previous visits.

Joyce is keen on gardening but had a nasty fall a few months ago. She broke a lot of bones but she's recovering well - however she can't get back in the garden just yet. She was able to put on a raincoat to come outside and instruct us though - "I'd like this cut right back, that bush cut right back, and those fir trees taken down to the level of the fence".

Frances and Sarah got to work on one of the shrubs, with Phil attempting to cut the fir trees back, but the only suitable tool we could find was a hacksaw so it was hard going. He got nearly through the first branch when the blade snapped - but with a combination of Phil twisting the branch and Sarah snipping with secateurs the branch came away. The rest of the branches will have to wait for another visit and a bigger saw!

Phil switched to trimming back the other small bush and soon the bedraggled runners were ready to head off again.

We'll be bark...