Rubbishy area in need of overhaul!

[CommonSenseSuze]

I'd be very grateful if anyone could offer advice on clearing an area and also what I should do with it!

We have a small part of the garden, which is in a sunny spot, but 'round the side of the house. so there's not much to look at.

It's currently full of old gravel and weeds. How can I clear the weeds (permamently), without killing the squillions of insects and spiders that live there? Is this possible?

The area is about 12ft x 18ft. Should I re-gravel, or go for bark chips? I don't have the budget to pave it, I don't think. There's no value in grassing it, as we have plenty of lawn.

I'd be grateful for any inspiration you can offer!

Thank you! :)

Suze.

Put a greenhouse on the spot (so no worry about what's underneath) and grow interesting things (tomatoes?) in it?

Hi ragged, thanks for that.

I forgot to mention that I'm no good with veg! I had a greenhouse but gave it to my neighbour. He grows so much that there's always plenty for us too!

Thanks for the idea though.

Could you grow some fruit trees and keep the grass for the wild life just mow it like a meadow a few times in the year or let the naturalised trees grow, obviously with space around them.

I do this with a side garden and we're watching the birds enjoying the elder berries [it's very easy!!]

How about putting that black mesh down in a double layer to stop the weeds (or old carpet/underlay) then gravel on top? Then you could put a few nice containers of flowers on the gravel next year? You can get the black membrane stuff from B and Q although IME old underlay is better! You have to make a few holes in it to allow some drainage. I did this in a funny area of our garden where not much will grow as its a bit of a wind tunnel. Looks much neater.