France in Focus

Well, in fact removing grass to make a bed for extra blackcurrent bushes; does this count as part of the 5000/10000 steps per day we are supposed to take to keep us healthy?

You don't really need 10,000 daily steps to stay healthy: the Scientific American.

This daily goal has accidently been invented by a Japanese company in the sixties. Read this, quote:

Yet the concept of taking 10,000 steps a day to maintain health is rooted not in science but in a marketing gimmick. In the 1960s a company in Japan invented an early pedometer. Because the Japanese character for “10,000” looks like a person walking, the company called its device the 10,000-step meter."

The Japanese character for “10,000” resembles a person walking: 万
That must be something to do with the Ministry for Silly Walks.

However many steps we're supposed to do, I'd say that digging, or any gardening more strenuous than dead-heading roses, is very good exercise! Just don't overdo it and mess up your back....
You know that blackcurrants like a slightly acid soil, @tagh? Might be worth incorporating some peat (wash my mouth out) or sulphate de fer during the prep.

Thank you QS I didnt know that. Will work a bit in.

I get the impression from all the discussions in recent years that this topic lends itself to a good discussion and fact based (?) arguments.

Sawdust is also good to add to make soil more acidic.

As for the turves you've lifted - if you have any energy left then stack them upside down and you will get wonderful loam if you run out of molehills.

If there is any risk of running out of molehills just bring your digger and lorry to me and help yourself.

Please don't mention the dreaded M-word.

That phot looks to be about 4 square metres. I can show you about about 1500 time that space looking very similar.