We recently took on a 2nd plot on our site. Must have had a mad moment somewhere along the line or been drinking too much vino collapso.
It's been covered in carpet for the last 3 years (if I hear anyone say "Good" then I'll scream). Not 1, not 2, not even 3 layers were down, but yes you've guessed - there were 4.
Completely untouched by human hand for all of the 3 years, soil had blown on and weeds (mostly the dreaded couch grass) had well and truly established on the top with roots well down thro all the carpet layers (previous owner had even laid carpet over carrier bags stuffed full of couch grass roots!). We needed a pick axe to lift it all. It was like lifting giant rolls of turf and took 3 large trailer loads to dispose of it at the council tip. The ground underneath resembled the surface of a motorway complete with crevices that could pass for the Grand Canyon. Oh, I almost forgot about the willow trees which were dotted about the plot even tho' we are nowhere near water. Unfortunately we did have to disturb the wildlife - grass snakes, bumblebee's nests and countless mice nests during the clearance. Neighbouring plot holder had been curious about the disappearance of his broad bean and pea seeds over the last couple of years.
Now that its 'open' ground the weeds are once again establishing nicely (really grateful for all the rain we're getting) so we're standing by with a large container of glyphosate spray (no I really do not have a problem using it at this stage), and an army of rotorvators are revving up as I type. When all of this has been completed, we'll be in there spades in hands and hopefully by the spring next year some sort of order will have been restored.
Thank goodness for our lovely Plot 1 complete with shed, primus stove and chairs - it's great to sit back and relax and watch the sun go down at the end of long hard days.
