Perhaps take some time over winter to think about some ideas Gemma. Draw up a little plan of the right hand area since that's the bit that you really want to organise and change. As obelixx says, a larger gravel is better - it also stops cats seeing it as a litter tray I've just got a couple of tons of a golden one delivered which is brighter and works in with my planting as I have a lot of golds and greens, but there are loads of choices depending on your preferences.
I've used trellis on another fence where I built raised beds and it provides support for clematis but also looks attractive in its' own right when they die down. The raised beds have a mix of planting including evergreens. An informal curved area of planting might suit your plot better - crescents of planting to hide the shed a bit and encourage you to walk through the area - and also give some privacy for seated areas.
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
I should have said Fairygirl, it's a next year project. I'm stuck indoors at the moment and started thinking about it all.
There is time to budget, save up my pocket money and weigh up any and all suggestions My one last project for this year is to put in a hedge, then I'm going to hole up for Christmas
The trouble with being 'holed up' for any length of time is that our ideas run away with the purse strings ...
It's always tempting to rush into it because we want change to happen instantly, but it definitely pays off to take a bit of time to think ideas through. Good luck with it all when you get started and keep a photographic record of the progress. It really helps when you have those days when you feel a bit dejected with it. I've been taking lots of pix so that I can do a 'before and after' next spring once the new lawn gets underway.
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Definitely good to have time to think about it all Fairygirl. I was totally set on the idea of decking being the solution all through the summer, the whole garden has gone through a massive revamp and was thinking all the time how nice it would be to have just one area that wasn't muddy! Now it's all grey and wet out there I'm thinking decking for this bit is not a solution. I quite often sketch things out in a little pad at bedtime, so tonight the ideas are going to be flowing!
I really want a wooden bridge and board walk eventually in the wildlife garden too, it's like a bog at this time of year and even in the summer sometimes, think that metal mesh Edd will be ideal for getting grip on that
A boardwalk for boggy areas definitely needs a bit of mesh/chicken wire to keep it safe. One of the walks to a few very popular Munroes in the Highlands has a long boardwalk across the area from the car park visitor centre to the main paths. It allows people who are not doing the hills to see and walk round the large area on the approach which is full of loads of different vegetation and wildlife. All covered in chicken wire for safety
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
The weedproof membrane is essential under gravel as it stops it from sinking in over time. That will also keep the clay off your boots.
If your whole garden is so badly draine I suggest digging a soak away anyway and filling it with loose rubble to act as a drain and maybe even making a deliberate bog garden area which would add colour and form and encourage wildlife.
Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
"The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
It's not very clear at all in the pictures obelixx, but I have a large pond and bog garden beyond the other side of the wooden arch. Drainage is OK in the veg plot, getting lots of organic stuff added each year.
The trouble I have with the clay is working on the veg plot then going to the shed for tools etc, walking on gravel paths etc makes the gravel stick to 'me wellies and then it spreads it all over the place!
One of the worries I've got about hard landscape is newts sticking to it. It can be a bit of a desert to amphibians on hot and days they might dry out on the block paving. That wouldn't be good
The slate chippings obelixx mentioned would be a good option as they're flat and less likely to stick. You could extend the path across to the shed though, so that you're on a firm surface for working between the veg plot and shed. If the whole plot is pretty wet and sticky I think you'll either have to invest in some drainage methods (either the soakaway, or tons of grit mixed in to the whole plot) to improve the other area or plant it up quite heavily with just pathways through it and a small paved or gravelled area for seating/dining.
...and maybe a bucket of water next to the veg plot to stick your feet in when you come out!
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Posts
Perhaps take some time over winter to think about some ideas Gemma. Draw up a little plan of the right hand area since that's the bit that you really want to organise and change. As obelixx says, a larger gravel is better - it also stops cats seeing it as a litter tray
I've just got a couple of tons of a golden one delivered which is brighter and works in with my planting as I have a lot of golds and greens, but there are loads of choices depending on your preferences.
I've used trellis on another fence where I built raised beds and it provides support for clematis but also looks attractive in its' own right when they die down. The raised beds have a mix of planting including evergreens. An informal curved area of planting might suit your plot better - crescents of planting to hide the shed a bit and encourage you to walk through the area - and also give some privacy for seated areas.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
I should have said Fairygirl, it's a next year project. I'm stuck indoors at the moment and started thinking about it all.
There is time to budget, save up my pocket money and weigh up any and all suggestions
My one last project for this year is to put in a hedge, then I'm going to hole up for Christmas 
The trouble with being 'holed up' for any length of time is that our ideas run away with the purse strings ...
It's always tempting to rush into it because we want change to happen instantly, but it definitely pays off to take a bit of time to think ideas through. Good luck with it all when you get started and keep a photographic record of the progress. It really helps when you have those days when you feel a bit dejected with it. I've been taking lots of pix so that I can do a 'before and after' next spring once the new lawn gets underway.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Definitely good to have time to think about it all Fairygirl. I was totally set on the idea of decking being the solution all through the summer, the whole garden has gone through a massive revamp and was thinking all the time how nice it would be to have just one area that wasn't muddy! Now it's all grey and wet out there I'm thinking decking for this bit is not a solution. I quite often sketch things out in a little pad at bedtime, so tonight the ideas are going to be flowing!
I really want a wooden bridge and board walk eventually in the wildlife garden too, it's like a bog at this time of year and even in the summer sometimes, think that metal mesh Edd will be ideal for getting grip on that
A boardwalk for boggy areas definitely needs a bit of mesh/chicken wire to keep it safe. One of the walks to a few very popular Munroes in the Highlands has a long boardwalk across the area from the car park visitor centre to the main paths. It allows people who are not doing the hills to see and walk round the large area on the approach which is full of loads of different vegetation and wildlife. All covered in chicken wire for safety
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
The weedproof membrane is essential under gravel as it stops it from sinking in over time. That will also keep the clay off your boots.
If your whole garden is so badly draine I suggest digging a soak away anyway and filling it with loose rubble to act as a drain and maybe even making a deliberate bog garden area which would add colour and form and encourage wildlife.
It's not very clear at all in the pictures obelixx, but I have a large pond and bog garden beyond the other side of the wooden arch. Drainage is OK in the veg plot, getting lots of organic stuff added each year.
The trouble I have with the clay is working on the veg plot then going to the shed for tools etc, walking on gravel paths etc makes the gravel stick to 'me wellies and then it spreads it all over the place!
One of the worries I've got about hard landscape is newts sticking to it. It can be a bit of a desert to amphibians on hot and days they might dry out on the block paving. That wouldn't be good
Hey Gemma - no wonder your neighbour has a boat!
The slate chippings obelixx mentioned would be a good option as they're flat and less likely to stick. You could extend the path across to the shed though, so that you're on a firm surface for working between the veg plot and shed. If the whole plot is pretty wet and sticky I think you'll either have to invest in some drainage methods (either the soakaway, or tons of grit mixed in to the whole plot) to improve the other area or plant it up quite heavily with just pathways through it and a small paved or gravelled area for seating/dining.
...and maybe a bucket of water next to the veg plot to stick your feet in when you come out!
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...