Machinery to scrape back a garden?

[kira000]

We want to scrape back the surface of our garden before laying membrane and gravel.

Is there a machine one can hire to make it less back breaking work? It is not a big garden, maybe 6m x 3.8m

Thanks

[Clanad]

Most of the machines that can be used require expertise in their operation. The most useful (and popular) are the Bobcat's (made near where I live in the U.S. (seen here for one model: http://news.thomasnet.com/images/large/825/825 513.jpg ).

They are easily learned, but better to hire the machine and operator for quick work...

[sddsddean]

You can hire mini diggers (some are about 1m wide and will fit through a back gate), but as Clanad says, it could take a bit of practice to use. Also, have you thought about getting rid of your arisings? You may still have to barrow them to a skip, or if you have the room a grab lorry can work out as cheap and saves having to get the arisings into a skip. Both available via Yellow Pages. If you scrape off 2" over the whole garden, you will end up with around 2 tonnes of spoil.