Does anyone know anything about gardening?

Damn, we don't get squirrels like that in Yorkshire.

You can get through quite a lot with a set of loppers

http://www.screwfix.com/c/outdoor-gardening/tree-loppers/cat2730024

Does it have white flowers? If not it may be a berberis:

https://www.best4hedging.co.uk/images/berberis-x-ottawensis-hedge-plants-p10-2313_zoom.jpg

You could take it right back to the ground, they usually recover, take some cuttings if you're worried it may die. Feed the soil after with that tasty chicken manure pellets and add a mulch. It's probably a good wind break as it is, if that's a consideration.

Rent one of the long reach stihl hedge cutters, just make sure you've got a decent ladder

And gloves. Wear gloves.

Not one of those, it looks like the Alien of the hedge world. Terrifying amount of spokes. I don't want to take it right back, as it secures the garden from the woods at the back - a very good job it does as well due to aforementioned spikes, but it's just too big. It could do with 4 feet off the top and a lot of weight taking out the middle/tidying up.

Will look at loppers @rhowe but thats definitely going to be a tough day or 2. Maybe the best option. And yes, already considerig the different items of protective clothing I can use.

Don't think next doors is a stihl but didn't look too shabby just struggled with the thickeness and toughness of the branches. Reckon a still will hold up better?

White flowers in May would be hawthorne, might be pyracantha:

Hadn't considered hire actually, it's relatively inexpensive to hire a big electric Stijl trimmer, might try that first and if it's good then cut it back considerably.

Terrifying amount of spokes.

You're so obsessed with cycling that it even features in your hedge.

Just get dancing james up for a few days and give him a chainsaw, sorted.

Update on the 'cabbage'. We just ate a few caramelised in butter and sugar then braised with OJ and soy sauce. Still MEGA bitter. Really, really bitter - more bitter than radicchio and I think only cooking them that way made them bearable.

Other half (who knows about cooking but not plants) thinks therefore that they were some variety of chicory or endive. Interesting culinary experience anyway.

some variety of chicory or endive

See, Lower Clapton, I knew it.

Of course, it was mainly bitter because of the corpses buried below.

Surely watered with sad Unicorn's tears?

Please confirm you are alive?

any recommendations for a decent quality yard brush
metal connections
ability to replace shaft
like triggers broom, a broom i can still be using in 20 years time

along the lines of this

Ha ha, yeah. No after effects.

Let's see how much of these will germinate properly!

..basically all of them germinated pretty well, all the seeds with some varieties, 3-4 out of 6 with most.
Especially happy that the wild varieties came out as well (the thin ones in the picture below).

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First spring in a new house. We moved in last July.

Spent most of this week in the garden, sorting stuff out, putting bulbs down where there are no spring shoots, planning what I'm doing over the next month's and years.

It's so exciting and pleasing.

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Nice. If you took that this morning, it's south facing? Decking looks like a lovely little sun-trap.

Mower man came to pick up my ride-on for a spring service and drive belt. Desperately in need of a first cut so hoping to get it back next week. Godspeed, mower man.

Well Jell!
Looks beautiful.

Thanks guys. Yep south west facing for afternoon and evening sun.

The bottom corner is rally damp and unloved. I'm going to dig in a bog garden. Should be epic.

If you want some horticultural or design advice I'm sure the other half would be happy to oblige.

You could wet some logs and grow mushrooms down there :)

Ooh, that's kind. I have a friend who trained at Kew, many years ago, who is helping for now, but if we need some big guns I'll give you a call. Thanks.