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The secret life of the rubbish skip. They are such a familiar sight on our streets that most of us take the common-or-garden skip for granted.

But to some people they are the focal point of their lives, whether for survival, inspiration for art, or the subject of a university Garbology degree. And what is our fascination with not only keeping an eye on what other people put in them, but also maybe having a rummage, or best of all, spiriting away a discarded piece of treasure?

Writer and gardening expert Alys Fowler, herself no stranger to "liberating" skipped curios for her garden and home, builds a picture of our behaviour in and around these metal Aladdin's caves and unearths amusing and amazing tales to add to skip folklore of recent years.

Forget the old floorboards and broken sofas, afficionados see skips as a source of everything from priceless antiques to free food. And if your community needs affordable extra amenities such as a swimming pool or skateboard park, there's an artist who has created these very things - from old skips.

As Alys looks in a fresh way at skips throughout the land, what secrets and treasures are they about to reveal?

Producer: Neil Cargill
A Pier production for BBC Radio 4.

Alys Fowler delves into the hidden life of the rubbish skip. What secrets lie within?