Thank you all for the posts. My partner and I have been down today for a good two hour dig. I have caught the sun terribly!(Not bad for September.) The five foot high grass is a lawn. The brambles at the back we are going to tackle next weekend and the patch at the front my brother in law and I started over today.
I have sent off for the Marshalls catologue already. Also, I timed it right to take my allotment as most of the vacant plots are now being filled.
Thanks to you all.
   Peter.