I think I'd have a level change right behind the patio to create a larger flat area, with planting between patio and grass, and then go up at the back to create planted levels and a patio at the top. Something like in the photos below. Might also depend on what's going on in the adjoining gardens? Think the level change in the first photo (with the deck and planters) is about 1.2 metres

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I think you will have to create change of levels. The other alternative is to dig out the area flat with a digger, but that will create a huge amount of soil (dug out soil grows alarmingly!) and it will depend what is over your boundaries. I have a sunken patio, then two steps up to the rest of the garden. A change of levels does create interest. You will need retaining walls which can be sleepers, stone, bricks or rendered building blocks. Pic below is mine level change.

A few more ideas

Thank you very much for the ideas Carolina and Sonia. So attached is what we have in mind. I was concerned about the 1.2m changes in the middle (circled pink) thinking that it would make the garden look too steep... wondered whether it would be better to have a higher first level e. 1.8 high and then shallower ones in the middle. But I see that the level changes can look interesting.

What does it look like currently and why does it not work? Can you put up pics?

Mine is a bit steeper than yourso, but not as long. From back of house only 14.5m, but height 1.7m.

Height changes are sloped rockery/borders.

Some pics attached

Hi Ellie, how lovely! Did you do the sloped height changes yourself and is it difficult to do? Is there a retaining wall holding everything back considering that the garden is 1.7m high? My garden is just one level sloping upwards and currently covered with weed fabric to control the brambles :-((. I can’t wait to get it done!

Ellie your garden is gorgeous! 😊

KXD if it were me I wouldn’t put a higher wall by the patio as you will hopefully want to look at the garden when chilling on the patio? I’d make the first wall the lowest and then build up as you go into the garden. I just feel if that first wall was higher you would feel too shut off. In the picture below there is a high wall behind the patio which seems oppressive to me.
Just a thought 😊

Our garden was like this when we moved in. The rockery wall directly outside out doors is only 60cm. We have a 1.5 m high retaining wall at back of our garage which is at far side of garden, put of our view thankfully! No matter render, brick etc walls are quite unsightly and you have the space to avoid high walls. Folk with normal sized gardens might have no choice but a high retaining walls.

With a garden 40m deep, I wouldn't be building a 1.2m high wall, you have the space to tier it more.

How far out from your doors are you planning the first 1.2m wall?

With the

Thanks Sonia and Ellie. Yes I want to avoid the wall looking oppressive so your advice about not making the first wall too high is really helpful. 👍🏼 The plan is to put the first retaining wall about 4 - 5 metres from the patio doors. It is going to be a balancing act- the more terraces, the less steep the slopes, but the less usable space on the terraces itself because they will have to be narrow. The fewer the terraces, the steeper the slopes but more usable flat spaces...😁. I think I also read somewhere else on this forum that it is better to have a max of 3 terraces otherwise the garden may look a bit too chopped up... Thanks for your advice!

I also think you need more than 3 terraces and with a garden that long, you’ll still have plenty of space. Several of your ‘terraces’ could just be planting beds - you could have 2 together - like Ellie’s first one at 60cm & another directly behind. Each bed could be about 1 - 1.5 metres deep.

Thank you tamp75!

It must also remember that terracing is expensie or exceptionally hard work . Also terracing needs retaining walls of some type .