Would you choose a garden or location?

t0rt0ise

I would choose location. Unless gardening is your real hobby then your need for it will pass as the children age and keeping it up becomes a pain as you age.

lessonlearned

Gigervamp wrote: »

I do like the use of mirrors in the garden to reflect light and give the illusion of space, but they do have a tendency to also fool birds who fly into them.

This does happen of course. I have had birds fly into normal house Windows though as well.

RAS

Having lived in Victorian terraces with a small garden and with yards, a lot depends on how big the space is and the aspect.

Tiny (8x10') north facing with low walls onto a derelict back street is not the same as 15' square with walls you can clothe with plants with at least one wall getting sunshine part of the day. Consider breaking up the concrete floor (even if only to make a couple of planting holes near walls).

Play mirror tricks, plant the walls. For a cheap starter, make a pallet planter or two, but make sure the top is attached to the wall to prevent kids pulling them over https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=pallet+planter+diy&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiX8fXdvqfKAhVK7BQKHRrHDyoQsAQIHA&biw=1680&bih=916

Perhaps combine that with http://www.verticalveg.org.uk/ ideas.

Choose collapsible furniture, or make a drop down table fixed to the wall. Seating cubes double as storage and as seating with a cushion.

Add two hooks to opposite walls, a bit of washing line and an old sheet and the kids have a play tent that can be removed in a minute.

BettyBoof

Thank you all so much for all your helpful input, I really appreciate it. Gardening isn't a hobby of mine, I like the idea of it but not the practical stuff.

lessonlearned and RAS thanks for sharing those great ideas, I have copied and pasted for future use!

You have convinced me that a great house with a yard is doable - it's a good point that the yard can be changed but the location can't. With a bit of prettifying (and some digging up of concrete) we can create a relaxing, usable space.

nzseries1

I had a huge list of "must-haves" when I bought a place in 2014. I ended up forfeiting almost all of them (including the big garden) so that I could have the location I wanted. Haven't regretted it even one bit.

ancientofdays

You might want to consider how long you will want to stay in your next house. I love gardening though I garden for the satisfaction of having fresh vegetables. But I am getting older now, or more accurately have got older. My family is much more concerned about location and I have realised that having a bit of outside space matters to me but it doesn't have to be the big garden that I have enjoyed in the past because I won't be able to manage it and some veg and pretty plants in pots will do for me now. A compromise for me but a necessary one, not that I would have thought that 20 years ago.

duchy

BettyBoof wrote: »

Its not really an assumption Duchy, it's based on knowing this area well and that fact that all the relevant houses I have looked at on Rightmove etc.have yards. I do have a friend with a Victorian house and a small garden in this location (the only one in their street) but it's like hens teeth unfortunately. Would be lovely to find a house like yours with such a good-sized garden!

I have been on Google Earth but not having much luck finding that rare house!

"Location sounds more important to you. That will matter all year round, the garden will only matter in the summer months."

That's a very good point Loopy28!

Even people who live in my road were surprised we didn't have the usual yard so I thought it was worth mentioning.(Random claim to fame Bob Hoskins lived three doors down before he was famous I discovered recently LOL)

I'm not so sure with children the garden only matters in the summer months...... It's a lot easier to tip cooped up kids in the winter our into the garden to let off steam than take them to the park ......does I think depend on the children-some need that outlet more than others.

BettyBoof

That's very reassuring nzseries1, thank you!

ancientofdays We're not sure how long to stay in this next house. We are torn between staying a few years and then "upgrading" and staying put and trying to pay off the mortgage ASAP. We stepped off the property ladder when we moved abroad and are starting again in some ways, only with far fewer years with which to pay off a mortgage!!

It was definitely worth mentioning duchy thank you. I'd be delighted to find a hidden gem like yours (and with a free Bob Hoskins thrown in too!)

I must admit that while aren't using the yard now, the kids were still playing out there in October so perhaps thinking of it as a summer-only area isn't quite right. I have come around to the idea of thinking in terms of "outside space" rather than a garden and I think as long as I can picture us there - and see the changes we could make to beautify it a bit - then a yard could work well.

padington

Buy a house with a smallish garden in a good location with flat roof you can chuck some fake grass and line the sides with bamboo and slip out onto your own roof terrace for a quiet private read now and again.

BettyBoof

That would be lovely Padington but not many of them about!