OOOH am very excited - help please!

[loolop]

Am getting our garden done and going to meet the garden planning people tomorrow to design it.So I was just wondering do you have anything in your garden you absolutely love? And on the flip side anything you don't like?

Have got 1 DD 11 months so will be avoiding things like ponds etc but was thinking of having a little play area designed for her but beyond that I don't know

we have a shitty back yard so no advice from that, but when I was a kid my parents had a large sandpit built into their garden (brick to match flowerbeds). It was fantastic. We could easily sit 2 (and many more in it) and used to spend hours.

They had to have a secure cover to stop the cats shitting in it though.

Definitely a sand pit.

My favourite thing in our garden is the raspberry bushes.

A tree that in time she can climb. Dh's parents have one and dd has been climbing it to increasing heights from age 5. She's now nearly 11 and always heads off to the tree first. Dh and his dad also built a treehouse in it 3 or 4 years ago which is brill.

Am v. envious btw. Have fun tomorrow!

What fab suggestions thank you! Am printing this off to take with me.

Lapin can I just say your DS is absolutely scrummy! What a cutie

Mmmm raspberry bushes....

Am fingers crossing for a mild March so we can make DD's 1st birthday party and garden party

Littlelapin are you not allowed to plant anything?

Loolop, be sure to leave a space without any fragile plants where she can dig/plant her own bulbs etc

ooh yes, raspberry bushes -we've got them too and definitely recommend them.

Also:

apple trees- good for shade, nice to look at and (obviously) provide fruit

herb garden

a decent sized area that can be used in all weathers by the children, ie. when the grass is too wet and soggy

lol @ Cali shouting BARK CHOPS

will be sure to avoid bark chops!

i have a lovely pampas grass in my garden,which has housed baby robins,hedgehogs and a fox !! mine is quite a big one but you can get the minature variety.Its a very elegant plant when out in full bloom.I have a pic of it on my profile

at pampas grass

What about a herb garden associated with the play area in some way, all those loveley smells and textures

Yes, agree with bettyspaghetti about the all season area. Our garden is waterlogged at the mo but we can play on the patio - taking dolly for a walk in her pushchair etc.

I just had my backyard done (about 400sqm)and I designed it myself with three different levels - one of which is home to the playground - the largest of which has a lovely winding gravel path with largeish river pebble border on each side and I think that that and the lovely new Sir Walter Buffalo turf are my favourite bits - good luck.

Agree lem, I'm surprised mummylin 'fessed up about the Pampas grass

how about putting your sandpit under a tree for the shade (but falling leaves a pain) and building it with railway sleepers (look nice but beware seeping oil)

if you have heard the rumour about pampas grass owners being swingers ,i will tell you now the closest i get to "swinging" is when i lift my legs out of bed