A tub or similar container for easy collection of shards and broken spirals. Spirals exposed to the most sunlight (UV) can be brittle and shatter when removed requiring fingertip clearance of the area to remove all plastic shards from the soil. A rigid container kept close by for easy collection of small shards is essential.

Bin bags with a litter-picking ring to keep them open are also useful. Spirals that come off the whole can be tossed behind into the open to be collected upon standing up and put into bags

A small trowel, fork or knife is useful to dislodge plastic caught between stems or the bases of spirals that have become buried in the soil. Hazel (with its multiple stems) tends to trap the plastic spirals and make them difficult or impossible to remove completely.

A kneel mat is essential to protect knees from being punctured by thorns, particularly if the hedge has been flailed recently.

PPE: Full skin coverage is required – especially vulnerable areas are the lower back, hands, arms, head, and eyes. A cap as headwear, safety glasses (or sunglasses / normal glasses), and gloves that allow fine motor movement plus a kneel mat are all essential