Hi mw80

Sand in the raised beds is OK but it will make it drain faster. This might mean watering in summer. Have you somewhere you could get manure from? This could be put at the bottom of the beds to bulk them up. Straw is good, but fresh stuff might rob the soil of nitrogen in it's first year. Newspapers at the bottom bulk it up a bit. You can use all sorts for the base soil then put a few inches of good top soil on it. By the time the plants establish the subsoil will be rotted enough to awelcome the fresh roots.

cheers

Ian

www.gardening.ie