ok, so the garden is now finally an empty plot ready for work to begin creating a new a garden, the main square at the back is probably about 10 feet by 10 feet.

i plan to build up two sets of L shaped raised beds around the walls which seperate the garden from neighbours gardens & alleyway and have a few questions.

plan to use railway sleepers, any advice? do they need to be treated to stop rot? Do i need to put sleepers against wall to protect wall when i make raised beds against or can i just let wall act as one side of raised bed. height of beds, still udecided but can't be too big as wall is only approx 3ft high

haven't tested ph of soil yet but know from digging its clay based though it drains reasonably well. in one of the beds i was thinking of planting some lovely 3 year old azaeleas which are currently in pots from the move.

the questions i wanted to know were do i need to do anything to the soil underneath the raise beds. will improving the soil and adding organic matter be OK aslong as i make the beds out of ercaisous (sp?) compost.

scondly has anyone any experience and success of growing lavender stoechas and/or honeysuckle in acid soil? plan is too add some wooden trellis to wall to give height and offer some privacy from neighbours which honeysuckle can grow up & across. how high can honesyuckle grow, as wondering how many plants i'd need to cover the walls & trellis?

what about alpines will they survive too as long as soil is free draining because was planning to make some holes in the railway sleepers so they could add some colour to the front. If u need to know what alpine specifically let me know as i have a beautiful alpine which continuely sprouted purple trumpet like flowers from a pot last summer which i'd like to use.

thanks for your help