Help! Advice on new lawn needed...

[robinredder]

I've just removed everything (12 tons of concrete, old shed and dead trees) from our garden and now have a rather intimidating blank canvas in front of me. The idea is to eventually design a wildlife garden with a microclover/grass seeded lawn in the middle, but that won't be until next year. Meanwhile, I want to stop the garden turning into a haven for weeds. I don't really want to put down unenvironmentally-friendly plastic sheeting. I've thought of laying bark chippings, but I'm worried that I won't be able to seed the grass over this. Could anyone help with this?

could you put a request out on freecycle for someone who is having the house re carpeted, and use that (woven back) upside down over the lawn. Then its delaying the trip to the tip for the carpet, rather than using something new for the 6 months?
Enjoy the planning and planting. It sounds lovely.

Thank you, nextphase. Green manure is apparently the answer - good for the soil, organic and cheap!