Is this a difficult question?

I love the random recommendations!

I would keep it simple - fork, hoe, spade....

You can buy other bits as you need to. Hand trowels are ok of your ground is nicely worked, but if it's hard you'll need a fork.

Good luck - hope you love it.

 

Secateurs for dealing with the bushes, fork for turning the soil and a hand trowel for a bit of digging.

 

Trowel, watering can and rake. I am surprised no-one has mentioned rakes. I am using an "expanding rake" atthe moment and have never used one quite like it, definitely recommended.

Some sort of weedkiller probably as well, but I'm not sure this qualifies as a "tool."

To be honest I would also say a spade because - well, in gardening, one always needs a spade. But that makes four items. Why does there have to be just three?

 

As I'm evidently not allowed to take my Einhell Rotavator with me, I would buy another one. But the first move would be to get my mate next door, to bring his two ton digger in and clear the site to start again. After he's cleared it, Rotavate it several times to clean it up and reduce the clods.

If the two ton digger isn't strong enough to shift the bushes then the eight tonner would.