Best tool to remove blackthorn suckers?

[pantalonmagique]

I have inherited a blackthorn bush on my allotment and it’s sending out loads of suckers that keep springing up in the beds. Nothing grew in the nearby bed last year as I think it was sucking all the water. I’ve cut the main trunks back to stumps and will deal with those but is there anything- apart from a spade or fork that I might be able to use to remove those bloody suckers?

I used to run the mower over them. You either have to cut them down or dig them out. TBH, if it's just one plant, rather than a hedge, I'd get rid of it and replace with another native that doesn't produce runners - hawthorn?

Yes, I’m definitely going to get the whole thing out - if I can, I think it’s going to be a big job. Hawthorne or similar is a good shout. I’ll try and plant something in the autumn.

We put in native hedging many years back, completely oblivious to the fact they send out runners. They are a pain and I have to chop them back each year otherwise they start taking over.