[Dreich Pete]

I've built a load of raised beds for my vegetables but they are all empty and our soil is very firmly packed and Stoney so digging it over and filling the beds with soil from elsewhere in the field isn't my best option - unless I find a friendly neighbour with a digger. So I'm keeping a look out for some free topsoil locally from a landscape or building project, but I'll also need something to boost and fill it out. What should I use to do that: straw, raw manure, or do I need to buy in some compost?

[pgkevet]

When i had the greenhouse base built I backfilled with my own soil from building spoil (other stuff being done too).. was hard work sieving it through a weldmesh sieve I made to fit over the tractor loader but doable.

As for what you mix in .. rotted horse dung/straw is favourite and free usually if you can go fetch but the 15 tons I stuck on my veggie patch again was hard work to spread.

Wht you end up with mixing in really depends on the soil type.. you might need to lighten with some sand or just mix in loads of rotted veggie fibre (or let it rot in there for next year)... sawdust and woodchippings from processing for my woodburners and from pruning is excellent as is the woodburner ash.

[clydesdaleclopper]

Have you thought about hugelkultur and using wood?

[mojocafa]

I have a straw heap from my goats shed you are welcome to take some of that if its helpful,
Will even help to load a trailer . I am close to arbroath

[cloddopper]

Perhaps take a peek at , " The Berkley 18 day hot composting method " , to get a pile of quick made high volume quality compost .

  Add 50 % composted coir ( fairly cheap on line in compressed blocks ) or peat  & you'll be able to grow almost any UK grown veg or fruit so long as it is a minimum of six inches deep .
 If you want you can also add 1/3 by volume of coarse chip vermiculite insulation fill
to keep it open oxygenated and liquid nutrient absorbent.  It works well but does push up the price of the growth medium .

 One big advantage is that this way means you have very very few weeds if you make the compost as instructed  .
 I now have over 220 sq feet of raised flower & veg beds filled with this material... soon to be expanded to an extra 120 sq ft