What to do with a bank that's too steep to mow

[CinnabarRed]

And the soil is very thin. I've got about 40 foot to deal with. It's supposedly grass but as we live next to fields it's mostly dandelions and thistles.

I was wondering about a rockery? Or perhaps herbs? I'm an avid cook and don't mind weeding. I just can't get a mower up there.

Many thanks!

PS: we're in the Chess Valley of the Chilterns - think that means the soil is chalky. And the bank gets the sun all day.

can you put in steps, a bit like raised beds.

rockery + herbs also looks good.

I don't think there's space for steps. It's very steep - 40 ft long, by 4 ft high by 4th deep!

A silly question, if I may: if I converted some of it into a rockery, do I have safety issues with my toddlers?

I've seen mowing done on a slope by tying a rope to the handle of one of those Flymo hovering mowers then dangling it down the slope. Sounds dangerous though, maybe fun?!

Have a google of terracing slopes. You may see something on that that would work.

Thanks for your posts (especially on string entwined Flymos!).

I should confess that I'm a rubbish gardener and have accidentally killed virtually every type of plant in my time. Luckily my lovely FIL will help me out. He's also teaching the DSs the basics of gardening, and they're already more knowledgable than me (well, the 4yo and the 2yo; the 7mo will be as soon as he can talk).

Get a goat

We have a garden like yours.Ours has been organised into a network of small terraces held up by dry stone walls and interconnected by a winding path.Alpines are easy to grow and pretty indestructible and look pretty.I wouldn't advise the flymo.i nearly killed myself doing something similar years ago.