How hard can it be to make a raised bed?

A short while later I met Paul with Fee who had also said she was interested in the project. I was expecting to see two ready built beds and was excited to think about the planting. Instead we were taken to see this:

I think the word is gobsmacked. Anyone who knows me will tell you, physical activity and Debra are not friends. Neither, to be honest do I know anything about gardening. I love my garden at home, but to say it thrives on neglect would be an understatement. One thing I do have in spades is stubbornness. After a cup of tea or three, Fee and I got excited about building a garden. Rather than one or two small beds, we could have slightly bigger ones artistically arranged, with a sitting area for everyone to enjoy the beautiful flowers and buzzing wildlife. We could build woven wicker beds with curving sides and interesting shapes. I wonder what was in that tea! So we started. 

Park in the Past is a reclaimed quarry. It has been going back to the wild for a number of years, and is now being managed by the Park In The Past Community Interest Company. There is a lot of willow on site as well as Ash trees. Getting willow should not be a problem . 

Next we started to clear some ground. Then it began to dawn on us what a mammoth undertaking this was going to be. The area we were dealing with had ground like concrete. I'm not sure what part it played in the quarrying process, but having any soil was not part of it. Digging a hole takes time and is very difficult. After 2 hours back braking work we had cleared a little bit. 

We concluded, more tea and more thought was required.