Project 1: Redevelop the area behind the pond.

If I call the front garden "Project 0" then the pond area is project 1 and the side of the house is project 2. Should keep me busy enough!

Before:

A general view of the pond area. Two compost bins make a poor display, a dilapidated shed is just to the left of the bins with a bench and there is a stone seat that is overhung by a conifer so much that you can't sit down.

At the side of the pond. There are some great plants here,  just gone wild. The sumac is beautiful but has lots of suckers and there is a rose bush and a buddleia that haven't been pruned for 5 years.

A large sumac sucker, several years old, a spindly buddleia 

and a spreading conifer of some sort. There are brambles too.

After emptying and removing the first compost bin and pulling up some of the ivy. About two hours work if I include the time spent putting the compost on the allotment. There is a cable and a water pipe (for the pond pump, filter and waterfall) to be hidden.

The rest of the ivy to come out. I want to have the ivy cleared and replaced with something less invasive before the frogs hibernate amongst it.

Off to do some planning sketches!