Questions about raised beds for veg plots?

[TeWiSavesTheDay]

Hello, hoping the gardeners on here can answer some probably slightly daft questions

We had a gravelled section at the front of our house which we really disliked, have pulled it all up and built 2 smallish raised beds about 12" high, with a path around/between.

We haven't filled them with soil yet - we took up all the weed membranes that had been under the gravel and the soil is very tough, should we break it up with forks/spades before we top up the beds?

Also what line of soil should we top it up with (our allotment book just says the top 10" should be "topsoil" and are their any good places to bulk buy this?

Thank you!

you need to break up that layer for drainage
if its in the front, your options suddenly get rather easy ....
a couple of these
www.travisperkins.co.uk/p/hallstone-value-topsoil-bulk-bag-06m3/215757/2893358
and a car load of manure and a bag of compost and you're on your way

Excellent! Thank you.