should I take on a plot?

[spacehopper]

Go for it madmum!  :)

What is the security like at the new plot?

[spacehopper]

[john_miller]

Any advice about making a compost heap? Obviously won't be putting couch etc on the pile but will need to start from scratch. What's the best thing to put together?

Couch will not survive deep burying (at least 25cm at this time of year, more later in the year), due to its thin rhizomes, so it can be buried in a compost heap without too much chance of it's re-growth. The rhizomes are the white strands that you are/will soon be  digging up. Another organic option is too leave the rhizomes to dry somewhere, even just on top the soil surface, and kill them this way. That assumes no great rains are forecast soon! The dead rhizomes can then either be composted or simply dug in.

[wardy]

RC  I use all the cardboard I  can get as it makes good ground cover under and around plants and keeps weeds at bay.  I use it under my raised beds as well which were plonked on weedy soil. The cardboard under my spuds rotted away but stayed long enough to stop weeds coming up through my spuds.  Got some round the edges though but that was better having them coming up through the taters  :)