I would not recommend doing such... Builders sand has added salts and chemicals.

If its silver sand, that's fine - washed builder's sand isn't too bad, but ordinary builders sand, no.

Sharp sand is ideal for improving drainage but will alter the ph level, as it contains calcium. Horticultural sand is neutral. Building sand (soft sand) will clog the soil particles and inhibit drainage.

Welcome to Goy Bainliam. Do you have a huge amount or just a small amount.If you need to get rid of it and as long as you do not use too much you could scatter it on top of your soil so that it is absorbed. An alternative would be to add it gradually to your compost heap. As explained above it will not aid drainage used in the way you describe. Maybe a neighbour could use it.

I wouldn't even scatter builders sand on the surface Scotsgran the salts will get leached out into the soil.

I am taliking about a light scattering MG and I know from experience that it has not caused problems on my soil but it is all about knowing what you have and that only comes with experience. It is a case of try a little and see. It depends how much Bainliam has of it and whether or not he can get someone to take it off his hands for their own project. If there are freecycle sites that far north he might find someone willing to cart it away. We all agree it cannot be used to aid drainage.

I just had a look at some other sites to see whatisbeing said about a similsr problem where the sand was three years old and had plants growing in it blown in by the wind. That was deemed to be perfectly safe but to show whether it was fine sand or a mixture of fine and gritty sand put some in a bottle and see how quickly the sediment sinks. The idea being that down in Dartmoor for instance the two sands are mixed and if it has been lying open to the elements it might have had the majority of fine sand washed or blown away. Salt in builders sand is only a problem in areas where salt is found in it and not added. A better alternative to using the sand was to use torn up polysyrene or broken crocks as a drainage aid in the bottom of raised beds.

i think the same as scots gran and i have some old soft sand with weeds growing out of it . you could sprinkle it on your lawn lightly to i think .

Many Thanks for all the responses above - most appreciated

your more than welcome x .