Ideas for what to do with unwanted driveway?

[RemoteControlHeron]

I have a long gravel driveway that leads down the side of my back garden to what was a detached garage, now turned into a home offfice/garden room. The width between the side of my house and next doors fence to get down the drive is too narrow for most modern cars so it will most likely never be used as a functioning driveway (and we just use the front drive). The driveway was probably laid in the early 90s and therefore gravel is bare with no remaining membrane, meaning I spend hours of my life all spring and summer weeding it to look presentable. Due to the size (c. 70ft long by 6ft) it will be extortionate to pave/re-gravel/turf. Looking for any bright ideas that won’t break the bank on what I could do with this space?!

Can you rake sections of it to apply a membrane, then put the gravel back?

vinegar and dish soap in a watering can is effective and weed removal.

Turn sections of it into a gravel garden; Mediterranean plants perhaps?

Plant with low growing herbs that won't need regular mowing and can be walked on and also..
Gradually pave a walking path with old bricks or Xlarge pavers.
Congregate some potted trees and plants.
Make use of space for a table or chairs or hammock.
Install bike racks.
Install small trampolene or exercise equipment, swing etc.
Install a chook house on wheels.
Install a dog kennel or outdoor cat run.
Install a cubby house or storage shed.
Install a clothes line.

What do you need in your garden?
What do you enjoy?
Can you erect a sail for shade?
Can you grow hops for beer making on strings from your roofline to the fence?

Grass seed

or even a pocket full of rye 🤣🤣

I would just buy a collection of herb and flower seeds, scatter them over and allow the rain to do the rest. Then wait two years and see what’s what.

Wait two years because you want to see a whole year’s worth of growth and then see what self seeds well. Add a bird bath and a bee hotel.

Having the space set up as it is seems fortuitous to me.

We had something similar.
We got rid of as much gravel
as we could, then put top soil
over and turfed. We've got a lush lawn down the side of our house now.

What direction does it face and how much sun does it get? Gravel garden would be the obvious answer but that only works if it's fairly sunny.

I think grass seed will be the easiest. If you want rid of gravel advertise it on Facebook marketplace and people will happily take it away for you. If there is a building it leads to a narrow gravel path with a proper membrane won't be too hard to do yourself.

Thanks all for your comments and suggestions! Plenty of food for thought!

Grass seed sprinkled all over the area would appear to be the way to go. When you come to cut it though, make sure the mower blades are set high, or you'll be mowing gravel and duff the blades up. Once it's been there a couple of years, the grass will knit together in a thatch over the top, and then you can mow as usual. Buy the seed for fine lawns though, not the multi-purpose amenity sort.

Or... leave it as it is and use it for petanque!

Plant with herbs and alpines. Look for images of “gravel garden” to get some good ideas.