We're beginners :)

Sounds smashing Emma, welcome to GOY :~)).

it does sound great emma, if you post pics that would help so we can see outlay, also there is a question section where if you need any help just post a question and im sure someone will help you, good luck and welcome from me :o))

Thanks Skillen! we also have 3 kittens (5months old) and a lil old lady cat - we adopted all of them... not at the same time!! I only mention it because I saw your profile pic! Oh yes and a would-be-escapee hamster.... again adopted!! The other day the hamster did escape.... she was sat on top of the cage... eyeball to eyeball with a kitten!! nether were bothered thankfully, the hamster was rescued and the door she managed to bite through is now weighted down!! Lucky escape eh?!

Hee hee Emma, I can just imagine the scenario! Look forward to seeing the pics of ALL your brood, kittens an'all :~)).

Thanks sanbaz :) At the moment, we have .... mud!! We basically want to cordon off a section for the chooks and ducks to roam in, perhaps with bark chips, a section for us to relax in, perhaps grassed.... and an area where we can grow our own.... was thinking about the square foot gardening as it seems to utilise space really well. I will get some pics on here *blush* so you can take a look.

sounds good emma, yes you could have a patio, thena bit of grass then some raised beds for veg with either bark or a gravel pathways around them, depending where you get sun which way you do each area, im trying to think which member has a real cool chuck run and house, its like a mini caravan so cute lol

Emma you should have a look at Donna's page, she also has ducks chucks and an other birds, you could probably get some ideas for layout etc. there.
Just type 'donnah' into the search box at top rhs of this page.
Looking forward to your pics.

Hmmmm sounds perfect!! I'm all inspired!! :)

I don't have a very large garden Emma and I grow a lot of things in troughs and tubs. I do have a small amount of 'garden' where I grow flowers. I have two large wooden floor troughs that I made and I grow runner beans, french beans and anything else I can cram in there. In the other trough (with legs) I grow salad crops and I have another trough that I grow flowers. I have a small greenhouse for tomatoes, cucumbers and a zippy up tomato house, and four window boxes. It is surprising what you can grow with a smaalish amount of space. :-)

wow Richard, sounds like you have an amazing garden! Thats just what we would like, a balance between flowers and veg, salad etc... hopefully we'll get there :)

thanks skillen, will definately take a look at Donna's page :) We have so many ideas and dreams, its just putting into practice and making it all work! We are quite happy with the narural look, so it wont be a formal looking garden, tidy I hope though! We also love the idea of attracting wildlife (more animals!) so we have a pile of old stones we found when digging which we hope toads etc have made a home out of and look our for plants to encourage insects, birds etc...Maybe a pond, once the garden is sorted, but will have to mind the chooks... my mind is now off on a tangent planning the pond!! (help!)

Yet another "wish" is to have a bee hive. We went on a bee keeping course to get information we needed and we'd both love to do it, but again, we have more pressing projects to complete first! We have an amazing support network of bee keepers in the bedfordshire area, so once we do get up and running, we'd be ok if we got stuck!

Guys, what has happened to me?! I'm off!! Thank you all for your messages and inspiration.... and I've not even been a member of GoY for 12 hours yet!! I must get out there and get going!! :)

welcome to Goy emmaj ,looks like you have a busy year ahead of you,Good luck on all your projects.

thanks Khayla! I havent yet mentioned the fact that myself and my oh are recently self employed, business is booming which is great, but busy, busy and alot of outgoings, so tighten those belts :s also we are getting married in June, so a very busy year ahead!! We will need all the help we can get!! :D

I've done a couple of blogs about Square Foot Gardening if they are of any help. If you've any questions feel free to ask!