Put in a few French drains where you dig a ditch and fill it with crushed rock to help the water drain. In low spots put in some drains [http://www.homedepot.com/p/Tuf-Tite-16-in-2-Hole-Drain-Sump-with-Grate-and-Seals-2HDS-4/203463511] with pipe running to the French drain. You might also need to bring in 10 yards of top soil along with some sand to raise your yard a bit as you're probably right at the water table level. We've had to do all this as we live in the Pacific Northwest in a reclaimed marsh [a nice word for a swamp] where we hit the water table if we dig down 3". We had to put down about 10 yards of top soil along with some sand to raise our back yard. We also dug a French drain along the back to connect to the associations drainage pipes through the neighborhood. My husband has put in at least 3 of the drains in strategic locations around the yard to help drain off the excess water. Our yard isn't perfect, but it isn't the swamp it was the first couple of years we were here. We have to apply moss killer every spring or it takes over the yard. My husband also puts down lime to soften the soil, and help the water drain easier. He and a friend rent an aerator every summer and do both our yards to help with the drainage as well.

Happy to give some thoughts if they're still needed?

Hi Triona, I've reviewed the free floor plan software apps that are available. You can read them here. http://www.houseplanshelper.com/free-floor-plan-software.html Just FYI most software programs have an app where you can view your projects but I can't remember seeing one where you can actually work on your designs on your iPad Hope this helps Meg.

We have a brand new home with a clean slate of a garden which is overlooked (about 35x35) and I have no idea where to start!! I need a garden shed (quite big) and would like then a really sociable garden - bbq/seating etc. I don’t like formal planting but instead more relaxed... I would love some advice! I have a brilliant gardener to do the work but he isn’t a designer. Would love a pergola over the seating area and thinking black fences...