Tony wrote
I have been asked to help my girlfriend clear and level her garden (about
10 metres square)

It is all at different levels and will need the earth moved around to get
it level. So my thinking is that I would get a rotovator to break it all
up, rake it etc, then roll it flat for turf


I note that Mike says in one of his posts, not to use a rotovator.

If anyone has any advice it would be very much appreciated..

A rotovator will break up the soil as long as it's not heavy clay and
compacted. Kays comment about a thin topsoil is very valid though so be
careful.
But first you need to deal with any perennial weeds or the rotovator will
simply break up the roots and spread them around her garden, either dig them
out or use a glyphosate weedkiller like "Roundup" (read the instructions
carefully).
Depending on the soil you could, indeed should, also use the rotovator to
incorporate some grit / sharp sand / compost / manure to make the soil
perfect for the grass.
Why turf?It's expensive and needs a lot of TLC during it's first summer. If
you are going to all the trouble to improve the soil etc then why not grass
seed? You could then use the seed for the sort of lawn she wants, heavy
duty, bowling green, ...... etc.
It may come up with a lot of annual weeds but the first few mowings will see
them off.
A few CD's hanging about flashing in the sun will scare the birds off the
seed.

--
Regards
Bob
In Runnymede, 17 miles West of London
..