Just a thought ... could it have started off life as a fish pond and then it was filled in as a safety measure and turned into a rockery when small grandchildren arrived or something like that ... I know someone who did that.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Or was it built to hide something underneath it? Could it be turned into a pond perhaps as Dove suggested it might have been in a past life. I must admit I don't find it attractive but it would be a pain to remove.
If you can't remove, instead of planting it up, why not remove all of the soil, and treat it like a plant theatre. You can fill it with pots, ranging from smaller ones at the front, and rising in height at the back. You could have a stunning display, if you choose the right plants.
If you want to see what is possible with pots, and where there is no bare soil, look at Great Dixter. They do amazing things all over the garden. You think they are luscious planting beds, until you realise they are "just" clusters of pot on top of paving.
You'll find some photos here. There are loads more on the Internet.
Just a thought ... could it have started off life as a fish pond and then it was filled in as a safety measure and turned into a rockery when small grandchildren arrived or something like that ... I know someone who did that.
Good shout, the shape might mean it had a waterfall/fountain feature.
As for planting, I'd be inclined to cover most of it with a variety of stonecrops and sempervivums. Especially if you can sort the drainage out. But they'd need plenty of sun: which way does it face?
It faces South west - gets the sun in the afternoon and the evening - would that be okay for stonecrops?
Hi @mawallace44 Some good comments but to remove it would be a gigantesque task and it could have been built to hide something. Maybe it was a pond but because of the hot place, got too smelly or maybe developed a leak. @Obelixx has come up with a nice idea. Some pretty perfumed rambling plants after digging out a shallower area to hold water. Plants can hang down over the stonework at the front - rosemary likes hot spots. Good luck. Let us know how you get on. Tui
As for planting, I'd be inclined to cover most of it with a variety of stonecrops and sempervivums. Especially if you can sort the drainage out. But they'd need plenty of sun: which way does it face?
It faces South west - gets the sun in the afternoon and the evening - would that be okay for stonecrops?
The problem with removing it is that most local authorities charge for disposal of rubble at the tip.
You could put it on Facebook or eBay for free to collect. There's always someone who needs rubble! My brothers had a load off me this summer for building a gabion wall.
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Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
If you want to see what is possible with pots, and where there is no bare soil, look at Great Dixter. They do amazing things all over the garden. You think they are luscious planting beds, until you realise they are "just" clusters of pot on top of paving.
You'll find some photos here. There are loads more on the Internet.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Some good comments but to remove it would be a gigantesque task and it could have been built to hide something. Maybe it was a pond but because of the hot place, got too smelly or maybe developed a leak. @Obelixx has come up with a nice idea. Some pretty perfumed rambling plants after digging out a shallower area to hold water. Plants can hang down over the stonework at the front - rosemary likes hot spots. Good luck. Let us know how you get on.
Tui