Mumsnet Talk

We moved in to this house several years ago, mainly because it has a decent sized garden.

The house needed quite a bit doing, which is now more or less done, but the garden has been neglected

I have a basic plan of what I want to do. There's no hard landscaping (except maybe a base for a shed) but a lot of clearing and digging. I want to make some veg and fruit beds and a pond.

Initially I thought I'd do it all myself (and call DH in when the heavy work was really too much for me) but I'm finding it a lot harder than I thought. DH doesn't really have the same interest in it as I do and although doesn't complain would far rather be doing other things with his limited leisure time.

We could probably afford to get some help, but I don't know where to start. It's mostly labouring I suppose, but I'm worried that if the beds aren't cleared properly they're be a nightmare to manage and the pond needs to be done right etc.

It seems like a big project to do on my own, but the prospect of employing someone I don't know is even more scary. Where should I start?

Is there a local gardening club? Someone there might be able to come over and have a look and give you a few tips, or recommend someone to help you clear the space.

What's the garden like now? What sort of pond are you after, ornamental, wildlife or fish? I'm a fish geek as well as a gardener so can offer a few tips if you like.