I even dug over an experimental half dozen spadefuls of earth down on the bottom bit, which I want to reclaim properly this year and turn into a Zen garden.
This may, of course, turn out to be over-optimistic, but we shall see how much I think I can do myself and how much hiring a professional would cost. Alternatively I could try to coerce son and son-in-law into helping out. Both are big, strapping young men with plenty of muscle.
Here are some pictures of the May blossom, just coming out in time for Mayday.