I'm a world class ditherer when it comes to the big changes in the garden. For a long time, I've bemoaned the shade cast by two leylandii I inherited in the garden, and the fact that nothing will grow beneath them. I felt that my garden was becoming a deep, dark pit. But should I remove them?
Well, for many years I took the coward's option of chop chop chopping away at the tops and tips, shredding and composting a seemingly neverending supply of sap-filled branches that caused my skin to come up in a rash.
But on Friday I took the plunge and got my tree man in to do the deed.
The weekend has then been all about digging in home-made compost into the impoverished soil, and planting back up a whole host of Red Campions, Aquilegias and others I had saved and moved out of the way of the hobnail boots.
By Sunday afternoon, glorious sunshine poured into the garden when previously an Arctic darkness had reined throughout winter.
The 'gardening for wildlife' idea is that the extra sunlight should mean more butterflies, dragonflies and other insects will linger in my garden.
As with any change, some creatures will lose out - I expect I will get fewer Goldcrests and Blair's Shoulder-knot moths.
But I think the gains will be worth it. And I don't just mean no more rashes!
If you want to drop by my RSPB wildlife gardening blog, it is updated every Friday, and I'd love to see you there - www.rspb.org.uk/community/blogs/hfw
Adrian - Join the club we had a leylandii "hedge" (the trunks were like tree trunks!) removed last month and it hasn't half made a difference, we have loads more space in the garden now they have gone and created space to plant out our rowan and whitebeam trees. There is more light getting through and the garden looks much nicer without the dark zone at the back of the garden. Hopefully can get a border planted up with a few woodland plants at the back that will tolerate the shade.
Millie & Fly the Border Collies