"PK" wrote in message
...
John Hatpin wrote:
get yourself a mattock aka Ground axe.

Wickes do a good one for around £20.

ideal tool for the job

I'll second that!
We've got the Wickes Mattock - lovely bit of kit with a fibreglass shaft.
It's HIS really, but I find it useful for all sorts of obs - including
digging out a willow with masses of spreading roots.