Andy and Monika, on Crosby Road, have been meaning to prune their ancient (100 year old) apple tree for ages now.

Step in Richard D, from the skills exchange, who spent an afternoon lovingly trimming, pruning, shaping and tidying this senior citizen of a tree.

It now looks fresh, shaped, lean and ready for a season of leafing and fruiting. Richard also made the neatest heap of cast-off cuttings we have ever seen!! Perfect for popping into our green bin.

If ever there was a good use of gems, this was it - neither Andy nor Monika have a clue about apple tree pruning so, to get a skills exchange expert in means that it saved them time and provided at least one local tree with its new 'summer cut'! Thanks Richard.