Having studied pictures of metal-framed levelawns (Google) I decided
to save myself around 80 quid by making one from 2" x 1". I assembled
a rectangle (four pieces) 100cm x 40cm with a cross-bar in the middle
to attach a broom handle to. Corner joints were glued and dowelled and
flat triangular bracing plates fitted to each corner. The broom handle
was attached via a door hinge.

What you do is loosen and rake the surface of the soil to create a
'puddle' of loose soil, then sweep the levelawn over it to create a
very even, flat surface. Because of the large area of the tool,
hollows are filled nicely, whereas trying to do the same with a rake
doesn't produce such an evenly flat surface.

If only the ruddy weather would dry out enough! I've done
three-quarters of the lawn bed, but yesterday we had snow briefly and
today the weather/wind is absolutely freezing again. Will we ever get
any spring this year?

Anyway, if anyone's interested I'll make a photo and whack it up to a
web page.

MM