There’s much to be said about making use of other peoples “unwanteds”. Apart from saving a bit of money, it gives you great satisfaction to have re-used something that would have otherwise gone onto the skip. During all those years of spending holidays in France, I often noticed just how many gardens had what I would have described as “piles of old junk” stashed in a corner somewhere.

Since living here, and being on a fairly tight budget, you get to understand why this old junk is there. It makes sense to re-use old pallets, wood, bricks and such like in the garden for which you would have otherwise paid a fair price for. I last reported on my use of some old bits of wood and pallets to make the surround for my veggy patch. Continuing on that theme, I needed to section off an area at the back of the house for a larger composting heap.

Pallets are useful but very hard work to split and bit on the bulky side for what I needed.

Then I was talking to our mate, Peter Beta Biker about his garden clearance activities and discovered that he had a couple of bundles of old chicken wire he was going to take down the tip.

They were in quite a mess, twisted and tangled and clogged up with old dead vines. On looking at them you wouldn’t have thought that there was much you could do with them, but I’ve learned quickly not to be daunted by such things and just get on and try it. If it works, great, if not then I’ve lost nothing except a little time.

After 45 minutes of clipping, pulling and unravelling I had a perfect roll of chicken wire ready for use.

I’ve already used a piece to support some peas and the rest is enough to make my compost surround – just need to sort out a couple of poles or stakes to make the supports.

After my success, I did the same with the second tangled heap and I now have another roll to use for whatever ……