| AGGRESSOR | One attacks most of grass and gorse violently (9) |
| POLEMIC | Attack most of timid people on staff |
| MANGOTREE | Staff obtained most of grass from this tropical plant |
| REDUCE | Cut most of grass, including some that's chewed up |
| STORM | Attack most disturbingly right through (5) |
| BACKBITER | One attacks the reputation of another (9) |
| STONECHAT | Small bird of habitats covered in heather and gorse |
| ASSAILANT | Animal trouble detailed before one attacks (9) |
| ASSAULTER | One attacks a holy book verbally (9) |
| SARGASSUM | Problem surrounding a form of grass and seaweed (9) |
| SETSABOUT | Gets ready to, when one attacks (4,5) |
| TEARSINTO | Lousy artist one attacks |
| BORNLOSER | A patch of grass and a drunkard, suggested Spooner, looking for a man who had been constantly unsuccessful (4,5) |
| SOD | Area of, or piece of ground, containing a mat of grass and grass roots (3) |
| SODS | Surface layers of ground containing mats of grass and grass roots |
| FIRS | Conifers and gorse, by the sound of it (4) |
| THISTLE | With seeds eaten by goldfinches and linked to a Latin motto translating as "no one attacks me with impunity", a plant related to globe artichoke and cardoon (7) |
| SUGAR | Derived from a species of grass and once traded by Henry Tate, an ingredient used in preserving, icing, crystallising and caramelising that was a favourite of Elizabeth I (5) |
| SWARD | Ground covered by a mat of grass and grass roots (5) |
| AWN | Cut top of grass and top of barley, maybe (3) |
