Remove bark? Sow a lawn? What should I do?

[IamHappy1976]

I have a tiny back garden. It's North facing, I think. And only ever gets the sun in the late afternoon. I'm in the North of England, so it's fairly damp. When I moved in it had sparse, shitty grass (thanks, previous owner for never cleaning up after your dog!). I put down bark and DC had a swing and outdoor toys and lots of fun. DC are bigger now and I'm left with half decomposed bark (and lots of flies - is that the bark?)
What should I do? Lift the bark? Leave it? Sow some grass seed? Ideas, please!

If it's shady and 'difficult' you could steal this idea and have a Japanese-style moss garden www.google.co.uk/amp/s/amp.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2018/jun/03/blade-runners-the-joy-of-moss-lawns

How big is your small garden and what do you need your garden to do? Dry the washing/sitting area/bin storage? I think a lawn in such a shady area would be difficult. If paving the area and putting shade-loving plants in isn’t an option, how about shingle or gravel? (There is a danger it could become the convenience of choice for the local cats though....)

I'd say an 8 foot by 18 foot rectangle at best. The front garden is shingled with pot plants. The ground is full of clay! I have a long sliver to the side with a patio. This is where the sun is best and I have a table and chairs. The back has a retractable washing line (I was optimistic, lol) and a storage unit for the bikes. I could put in a path to get bikes in and out. I want to sell in a couple of years and the sad at of it out me off when I bought it!

Definitely no lawn. You will have a sea of mud all winter. I would google Beth Chatto gravel garden. Although she gardens on dry Essex soil her ideas can be adapted. It the gravel is rotting down, I would leave it and cover the area in gravel. Depending on budget you can use the basic stuff or ornamental gravel. Then plant ornamental grasses, ferns and bog garden plants. Or buy pots and plant in those.

My view is just to buy the very basic gravel, then you can put down a thick layer. The plants will spread and cover it in no time.