[HesterF]

You might want to dig some more manure into it if it's that free draining. I've got loamy clay and that will puddle water after a bit of treading but it's much easier in the summer - far less watering required.

For seeds try the specialist companies - I get most of mine from Suttons or Thompson & Morgan although there are hundreds of companies and many really specialise (just been looking at Italian seeds for squashes). Harrod Horticultural is also good for the hardware (albeit pricey) - I've netted all my cabbages this year and their hoops and nets have been brilliant. Reading Gardening Which?, they have best buys for loads of fruit, veg, plants and hardware and also where to get them so if you have any specific questions, I can check that but for your first year you're just as well off picking a few you like the sound of from Suttons or T&M.

H

[cloddopper]

If you find there is a Wilkinson's , Aldi or Lidel's  as you travel around  pop in and look for their seeds .
They are cheap ... EU approved and just as good as any of the UK seed merchants at three to four times the prices.

 In Wilkinson's yesterday we found half a gondola rack system full of seeds , garlic's  & onion sets .
Lidel and Aldi tend to bring the seeds  out into the shops fairly early in February ..it's always worth asking the duty manager if they know when things might arrive or look on their websites