Raised beds - are they worth it?

[Poppins2016]

I'm moving house soon and will have a shiny new 100 ft garden to play with. It's a blank canvas (mostly lawn) as our vendors don't seem to enjoy gardening...

I'm aiming for cottage garden style and would like a pretty area dedicated to vegetables. I know this goes against true 'cottage garden' rules... I like fennel, artichokes, herbs, etc. in a cottagey border, however I personally find it hard to properly grow vegetables (like spinach or carrots) in a flower bed!

I'm lusting after some cottage style raised beds like these: waterwillows.com/product/ch1-small-woven-willow-raised-beds/
I'll probably go for four beds and would like something a bit larger than the product I've linked to, so that plants have enough room to grow and aren't crammed in...

I suppose I'm wondering whether people find raised beds practical or whether they're just gardening 'eye candy'?

I like the woven look (although they're not cheap) so I might try wooden instead. Any advice on materials?

How long before they rot? How do you maintain them (if you do)?

Etc... All advice appreciated!

Thanks all, these are really helpful responses. I'm definitely going to try the raised beds, although I'm now toying with the idea of reclaimed timber or re-using some beautiful old clay bricks (as it's quite important to me to have beauty and function).

I have raised beds throughout my garden, but that's because it's on sloping ground; uphill from the road, downhill from the front of the house. It's also built on an ancient sand dune so needs stability. Bed borders vary from 6" to 2'.

The bit that reflects your needs is my veggie patch which is raised as it has to compete against voracious tree roots. Well worth doing.

I have repurposed decking boards for my beds. Definitely would use raised beds. I think they are easier to maintain than ground level, and much easier to work on when planting out etc.
My decking boards were grooved so (I think) my raised beds look quite decorative.
I also was able to build them exactly to my specifications i.e. one arm stretch wide for ones acessible only on one side and two arm stretches for the ones I can walk around.
Really really quick, cheap and easy to make.

Thank you clarabell. I'm in the Midlands, so a greenhouse unheated would be ok? We don't have space indoors, I'm sure of that!

How small a polytunnel do you think is possible? Maybe that would be a possibility- it's not an exposed site(we're in a hollow).
Food is so darned expensive nowadays! I just feel that it would make a difference to the food budget (but maybe I'd spend just as much on the materials to get going?)

Last year our peppers, aubergines, cucumbers and melons did very well in our unheated greenhouse, in the Midlands. Go for it !

Melons? Wow- any particular variety? I'm very impressed!

Haba I wouldn't say I save money by growing my own veg but I find it such a pleasure - it is my hobby and a good way of getting fresh air (I work in an office)

I have a long narrow town garden and they’ve been great because they are about 80cm high and the plants get so much more light up there. Soil doesn’t get compacted and easy to weed. Very pleased with them.

Popping, I had new raised beds last year. A carpenter/handyman made them, from 4 x4 inch x 8ft chunks of wood-like modern railway sleepers, but without the tar. The paths in between are gravel over weed suppressor. I'm very pleased with them, and the total cost was about £600.

I have three raised beds and find they yield well. Mine are no more than 1200mm/4' wide as this allows all maintenance to be done from the path/lawn. I grew broad beans, carrots, all our salads, plus peppers and chillies.