The message
from Curiosity contains these words:

I have recently visited my new bungalow which is nearing completion,
the builder is turfing the front garden but the rest of the garden is
up to me.

I was a bit dismayed to see that most of my rear garden is now a pond
about 3 to 4 inches deep. The plot has been carved out of a field used
for grazing sheep, I guess the ground has been compacted by the
building work and is accepting the runoff from the field.

It looks like I will have to hire a rotavator and put in some sort of
land drainage.

Any suggestions, I am guessing some sort of buried holy pipe leading
to a pit full of rubble (soakaway ?), I think the rainwater from the
roof is already going to a soakaway.

I think you have answered your own question in the subject field.

But if you are hell-bent on terra-firma I'd spread a lorryload of
mushroom compost mixed with sharp sand, and top-dress with whiting.
That's calcium carbonate, not Merlangus merlangus, BTW.

The worms will soon get it back to free-draining condition. (FSVO 'soon')

--
Rusty
Open the creaking gate to make a horrid.squeak, then lower the foobar.
http://www.users.zetnet.co.uk/hi-fi/