My back garden has an unruly feel to it. A typical cottage garden. Bordered on one side by my neighbour's trees and on the other side by a 3m high Forsythia hedge.

I love the informality of a cottage garden with plants allowed the freedom to make their own way through gaps to add random spots of unplanned colour. No straight lines. No annuals rowed up like soldiers. Nature's way isn't regimented. No symmetry.

But, saying that, sometimes Nature runs amok: Clematis Montana sneaking up trees to hover above the topmost branches with intent to advance; bluebell leaves blocking out light to less brazen perennials; Californian Poppies infiltrating flower beds like agent provocateurs with a view to a secret take over; laurel growing secretly & stealthily at the back of the border. A proper silent invasion! But is it your place to interfere with Nature?

Sparrows hop about inside the Forsythia hedge, happily chattering & squabbling. Starling parents try to encourage their fledglings to fend for themselves on the lawn - their first flying practice has resulted in a few of them bouncing off my studio window, dazed but unharmed. Periodically there's a screeching from the blackbird to announce that Ginger-the-cat's been spotted doing a nonchalant garden inspection. All bliss!

So, to return to the garden issue - yes, sometimes you need to take control. Yesterday, I did a recce to the back of the flower bed. With a lot of effort, I removed a couple of old woody Potentillas & totally rejigged the space! I almost sliced Mrs Blackbird with my spade, as she buddied up with me in pursuit of a quick & easy meal for her poots - cleverly holding 3 worms in her beak before disappearing and then quickly reappearing for more snacks. She spent a long time fine-combing the area - long after I'd called it a day.

She seemed happy with my intervention. Don't know if the sparrows will be quite so happy? I'm thinking of removing a section of that Forsythia hedge in my next garden foray - Taming the Cottage Garden: Phase 2. That might cause some dissent in the ranks!