Hi. I have a couple of ideas. First, I'd rule out trying to flatten it to one level - it is very expensive, even though it doesn't look like it is a big deal to do. You'd end up with retaining walls around the sides and back and have to redo the fencing and labour costs would be big because the access isn't good (think wheelbarrows of dirt for weeks!). Second, I'd talk to the church. Say that you want to trim the holy bushes so that they are level and lower. Tell them you'll pay for that (rent a hedge trimmer for a day - less than £100) but will need access from their side too for trimming and to clean it up (because you are a nice friendly neighbour :). Then say that you are worried about the trees because you think they are getting so big they might be dangerous and they should be trimmed. I'm not suggesting they should be cut down. If they are under a Preservation Order, they are protected, but trimming is normal and healthy for a tree. I know if the tree is in the street the council has to do it and where I used to live "the Swiss church" (never got any more info than that) had a giant horse chestnut tree that they had to trim every five years because it was massive and surrounded by everyone's back gardens. I don't know about the legality of all of that but a third alternative is for everyone affected by the super large trees pitches in and pays for the trimming. There will still be leaves, but their will be less and you'll have more light back there. Anyway, on to the more interesting bit. In the spring, hire a Karcher (a high powered hose) to clean off the green from your fences and your patio area. It'll also clean out all the muck on your little retaining walls. Then I would stain all the fences the same colour - Cuprinol stains and protects the wood too. I'd keep the front as a patio for a table and scooter laps, keep the middle as lawn with narrow garden beds on either side and plant honeysuckle in a couple of corners of the pergola - it is slow growing at first but easy and very low maintenance (and doesn't drop much stuff!). A hammock is a lovely idea for under there. Let it go back to lawn so you aren't worried about falling toddlers. I'd move all your nice pots down to the patio area and group them. It is really easy to put herbs and annuals in them in the spring for colour. As nasmijati recommended, the back section could be rubber tiles or a sandpit. I can't tell if it is paved at the moment or just sodden grass.... if soggy grass, do the sandpit, if paved, put the rubber tiles over the top. You can move the little playhouse back there. Now you should have plenty of areas for the kids AND the adults. Oh, and get a couple of kids rakes for Christmas and teach them how to help their mama with the garden! I hope that helps.

I played some more with everything and got now to a stage where I'm more or less happy, meaning I can't be bothered to fiddle with things anymore. I kept thinking it needs to be more asymmetrical in a symmetrical way; the breakthrough came when I had the brilliant idea (ha!!) to stuck up the planters in an wonky way. I had to put my engineer hat on and think how to manage to balance and fix the arrangement in a way that the top planter would stay without using glue or anything like that, just in case I want to reuse the pots later. So I went and bought polystyrene sheets and cut them to fill the portion of the plater that's suspended and added lots of gravel on the end that stays on top. And it worked! Andrew was great, as always, he offered to paint the walls; unfortunately we chose a colour that's darker/yellower than the original hue, but at least it looks clean. However, the big however, my darling husband managed to spill paint everywhere, even though I put newspapers all over the floor. Just don't ask how in the name of all that's holy he achieved that feat, apparently it's trade secret and he can't share! He said he's going to bring the pressure washer out and clean it (I suspect he did it on purpose so he can play with water again!) Anyway, the light is not great right now, but this is how it looks... a bit like a hotel reception, right? (please ignore the fact that I couldn't be bothered to finish sweeping the floor before taking the photo:)) This is it! It's still colourless and a bit too pretentious, but truly, I've had it with it. What do you think?

I laid my own last year. Like others, I also put sub-base down first (on top of levelled ground), compacted it (hired a machine), ensured it was level, laid sand over the top, then a good weed-proof membrane on top of that. I used one large section (to save gluing), tagged edges into the ground (around perimeter of the grass), then 'dressed' it with sharp/fine sand (many neglect this but it helps prevent flattening of the grass) -- do this when dry of course. The kids love it and, they don't get muddy! The only maintenance I've had to do so far is sweep leaves up. The garden's just about getting there (had to show pics as quite proud of the transformation!). Addition of sub-base (MOT type 1) below: Levelled, compacted, then sand laid level (and, again, compacted) on top of MOT1: Once that was done, laid weed-proof membrane on top: Grass went on top of the membrane (retained around the perimeter). 'Dressed' the grass with sharp/fine sand after that (when dry!). (Will finish adding plants when spring's properly here!)

Hi tani :-) the system will works with any tile as long as it has a rectified edge and is 20mm thick for strength! Tbh they are an added extra but the thought of being able to lift and lay them where ever I liked really appealed to me, plus the extra for the system I can save in labour and do it myself! Pretty easy if your anyway good with your hands and have a good diamond cutting blade.