What's the easiest way to level the back of my garden?

I have a small, slightly sloping garden. I plan on placing a seating area at the bottom of it so therefore need to level it out. I've been told it's easier to build it down than to build it up as you need to add compacted stones/sand if you want to build it up to stop it sinking over time, however I fancy having the seating area slightly stepped up from the rest of the garden, so building it up it is!

Like I said, it's only ever so slightly sloped so only need to raise it up about 5 inches so I'd like to know what are the necessary steps I need to take when it's only a matter of a few inches?

Here's a photo of my garden. Seating area is planned for the bottom right corner. I plan on covering the seating area in gravel once its levelled, not paving slabs.

 

I'm sure someone will come along with a bit better idea than me but on first sight it looks almost level.
Why bother?
If you really want to level it the best way really is to use what you have, ie, move 2.5inches of soil from one side to the other.
Might have a problem with the manhole though.
If you raise it up by much you will be burying the bottom of the fencing.

Do you really want gravel?
Ground force has a lot to answer for.

 

Thanks for the reply Pete. Only problem with moving half the soil from the back to the front means I'll be creating a gap underneath the fence at the rear of the garden. But since you've suggested just using soil, does that mean I can level of out by simply buying more soil and putting it at the front of the seating area? Would it not sink?

Why are you against using gravel? (Perhaps I don't mean gravel...? Just any kind of small scattered stone! Just have no experience laying a patio and don't have the budget to pay anyone)

 

Sorry, not quite grasped how its out of level, I thought it was left to right in the picture.

Your garden is, I assume soil with grass growing on it.
You can just add more top soil if you want to raise a certain area, but obviously if it is raised above the surrounding soil it would need to be contained around the edges.

If you just want to create a raised area for a patio you could use hard core or any kind of aggregate sold by builders, but again it would need containing around the edges.

As to gravel, its just one of my personal hates, seen lots of people put it down, but you try putting a seat on it and sitting in it.
Bit like a beach.

 

I would buy some bricks ( half bricks) and lay them just one layer all around the area you want higher or some log edging including the fenced bits then in fill with soil then membrane then sand then gravel. That way their is no weight of soil / gravel pushing on the fence. Hope this helps

 

some simple decking would be ideal and/or a very large arbor, looks good hide the neighbours at the back at the same time create a cosy corner

 

@Hannah's Rose Garden I bet you would have some roses growing over it

 

@Hannah - that's almost what I was planning to do by having a brick edging running round the area for decoration purposes but I guess would also be useful to contain the soil!

Here's what I've got in my head...


@pete - maybe I could have a go at laying patio slabs... Is it difficult? Can I just set them in sand or do I need to mix concrete?

@Spruce - a structure like that would great! But imagine they'd be quite pricey? Maybe next year I could add it in.

 

I've layed slabs on sand in the past and as long as the ground is well compacted its not as bad as some might say.
My soil is clay, so tends to be pretty firm, might be a problem if your soil is sandy by nature.

 

I would suggest a slight deck to is fairly cheap to build from scratch if your smart and shop about for bits it would give you a lovely section to sit in looks fantastic, sturdy, and best part there is notice Earth to move, I am currently building myself a gazebo with a raised deck but I have the issue of a larger slope in my garden mine slopes nearly 20inches over 4 metres I can post progress to give ideas