Where do we start

Oh dear Amy, looks like jolly hard work. Do take it gently.

Oh no.....sledgehammer job. Oh Amy, that is so disappointing for you. You have not had an easy time with this move at all have you? Every single thing that could go wrong seems to have done just that. Well, if you can find a contractor, perhaps you can get rid of the whole lot and start from scratch. Some lovely parts to enjoy in the meantime though.....:)

Agree, a cotractor sounds the way to go. You must be so disappointed. It looks to have loads of potential though.Step at a time...

Wow.. Amy ... if the area was a riding stables, let's hope they left lots of useful manure !

While it's great to see your new garden you have a great deal of work ahead of you! Try & take it easy, if you do a lot all at once you may hurt yourself & that would make you feel even more frustrated!

Even if there were old riding stables there once upon a time all the"goodness" will have long since vanished!

Hope you've got that leak & the boiler fixed by now.

Oh Amy, as everyone's said...a lot of hard work, but hey it doesn't all have to happen this year... You have some nice shrubs in the second to last pic. That looks like a cordyline with the spikey leaves. Let's hope,you can get some local help to give you a hand and keep your spirits up...xx

If there is concrete reinforcing mesh of welded wire within the concrete layer in the back garden you will need professional removal with heavy machinery which will be a great expense. Try to plan some kind of alternative other than removal, raised beds perhaps.

Oh Heck! What a disappointment for you.
I suppose if you want easy maintenance then concrete is the way to go but if you want a garden then it has to go.
Maybe have a bit of a rethink.

You will need a jack hammer if the concrete is 3" or more which you can hire from places like where my grandson s the mechanic at A Plant Amy.
The garden does look pretty at present and low maintance but we all like our own design I hope you find an easy way.
Your unidentified plant looks like a Cordyline. my neighbour has one that looks the same

Oh Amy a lot of hard work in front of you,but you are a great gardener and I am sure you will get it how you want it to look in time.

When we moved here we had a raised part,and I was going to plant it up,when I looked under the stones,it was slabs and under that concrete,too big a job for us,so I got all the stones off and put grey slate on top,and put my planted pots on top,it looks nice,but a bit of a compromise.

Thank you for all your comments ,also for naming the Cordyline I was hoping it was something more exotic Lol ..
Our main priority has been the inside comforts we've had a new kitchen sink / taps plus the nice big fridge/ freezer which I love,at last I don't have to keep getting down on my knees to find anything as the fridge part is at the top it's brilliant .. the wardrobes arrived so that's tidied things up ..
We still have boiler problems with it losing pressure it's an ongoing problem at the moment ...someone should come again today fingers crossed ..
We like living here and most of all being near our family but I have to admit I miss my lovely big previous garden especially when I look at all your lovely photos and realize how much I left behind ,I miss walking round in the morning to see which plants have come into flower knowing every single plant & tree was planted by us with so many memories , I have heard the new owners of our previous property don't bother to shut the double farm style gate which we had put in to keep out the rabbits muntjacs etc. which means they will be going in devastating all my precious plants but I mustn't think about that ! ..
We've decided to concentrate on one small area of the garden at a time it's the only way we'll achieve the results we would like ,I'm thinking huge plants evergreen if possible to limit the work involved maybe a jungle with ferns and grasses ...
Amy x

Of course the inside comforts should come first the garden can always wait you may be settled in by summer if we get one lol . That's great your wardrobes arrived Amy also having a fridge at the top a must for me too. Sounds great an exotic garden easier to keep like you say which the Cordyline would fit in wonderfully. Hope your boiler get fixed properly soon for you.

Hiring someone else to do the hard work seems to be the way to go in the future. Until then what about large containers? Must admit I have a soft spot for container gardening!

Amy, its lovely and admirable that you are still so positive after everything thats happened. I’m so impressed and you are a great example to us all for when challenges come along. As they inevitably will. :)

A task which you didn't expect,Amy..but you will rise to the challenge,and as said above,you don't have to do it all at once..just pace yourself,and ,and you can plan what to do in easy stages..I can understand how upsetting it is to know your old garden isn't being cared for as you did,I think we would all feel like that,when we knew it inch by inch...one thing is certain,you will get yours to the same standard in time,and love it just as much,and as Eirlys commented,there is something to be said for large container gardening in some instances..no more bending down for a start ! Lol..Thanks for the photo's ,and we can see there are some nice shrubs already..That first photo of your curved border looks to have lots of potential :o)xxx

Hip Hip Hurray :o)) Today the boiler problem has been solved it was the new radiator it was leaking at a joint near the base the water was trickling down the pipe under the floor it was why the boiler was losing pressure ,we're so glad it wasn't an under floor leak I was dreading that ..
Thank you for your interest and comments we'll rise to the challenge ,we'll have to we can't disappoint you Karen Lol . Today I ordered 2 Osmunda regalis purpurescens .. Purple Royal Ferns which apparently grown about 3ft tall so could be a good start to my " Jungle area " ...

You really have been through the mill Amy, what with all the problems with selling your old house and then all you are going through now. I really hope things become easier. Your new garden sounds like a challenge but I'm sure you will make it wonderful.

Hi Amy, everyone has said it all.
You have some well established plants, don't you. I guess it depends how much work you want, the concrete/gravel is certainly low maintenance.

Hi Dawn we are working with what we have there's a patch of decent soil behind the summer house Tony has already put his shallots in it , he's also dug out some old shrubs in a large bed and has planted potatoes to help break the soil down for another year ... you can take out the land but you can't take out the farmer / gardener Lol ..

Lol, Tony reminds me of my Dad. I'm pleased you're working your way through it all, you're actually making huge strides aren't you x

Plenty to be getting on with there Amy. Take it slowly and enjoy :) Good luck ... ! xxx

You can't keep Tony in when there's work to be done outside Dawn he's even found a patch behind the summer house where he's planted his shallots Lol,,
Thanks Hywel we will do ,Love to Beryl x

It’s good to hear your outside enjoying getting the garden sorted and that Tony is making the garden work for him.

Looks like a lot of hard work ahead but if anyone can turn it into a lovely garden then look no further than yourselves, try to be patient and pace the workload and you will get there.