What on earth do we do with this area?!

[Smudge738]

This is a side area off our back garden that leads to our back gate.

Any ideas what we can do with this area? It's out of sight from our window and the 'pathway' doesn't get much light.

We do have 2 small children also.

Would love to get your ideas.

Thanks

If it’s out of sight, Id be inclined to fill it up with wheelie bins, bags of compost, empty pots, and get all the clutter out of the rest of the garden. It’s surprising how much “working space” a garden needs.

Otherwise, the ideal would be to get rid of that concrete, and plant up with shade tolerant plants

First reply nails it really OP. Would help though if we knew what you are hoping for, (storage? greenery?) and also maybe a view from a bit further back.
I know someone with a similar space who has got covered storage for bikes and surfboards along one side.
Do you have a budget for removing the concrete or are you stuck with it? Can you paint the fence or wall?

Repave and full with pots of flowers etc. Kids can use it as a den/ play area. Depending on age can put in a Wendy house/ skating area/ swing ball/ netball hoop etc

Thanks for your replies/ideas, this is the bottom of it!!

We would like to ideally get rid/cover the concrete and it to be a safe space for a toddler

It's good to see that the toddler has caught the gardening bug!

I don't suppose that there is any chance that you can buy some garden off the neighbours? and get rid of the fir.

How much do you use that back gate? Do you need clear access to it? I agree that making it a practical area for storage, potting up etc probably makes sense.

We would like to ideally get rid/cover the concrete and it to be a safe space for a toddler
What about painting the concrete to brighten the space and then putting an outdoor rug on top to soften the surface? For example

Hydrangeas like shade. I'd put a couple in pots along both sides for some cheerful colour.

If you search 'side return' on Pinterest, there are loads of ideas, but essentially I'd tidy it up and make it an organised working space as a pp suggested and add in pots and containers with shade loving plants. Ferns look good in such places.

perfect for football, bike and scooter riding.

You could paint a race track on the paving slabs

I've got a similar area. I used to have lots of pots there with ferns and hostas but it's now the one bit of garden that has zero plants - DP & DS do sports stuff there and it's a handy spot for the water buts and shed etc.

I lived in a house that had a similar area leading from back garden to back gate. My dad made a roof of plastic stuff so it was dry and we kept the bin there and bikes. So you could make half of it a dry “play room” with outdoor Wendy house, sandpit, dart board, with out door mat, and half of it for football and scooters.

Some great ideas, thank you so much guys!

I was going to say great for scooting, tri cycle , ideal for playing when the grass is too wet.

I'd look up shady courtyard garden pictures and look at how they have been planted up.

I too would go for play area, unless you can move all your storage, compost, bins, etc into it, leaving the garden to prettiness.