Which way does the back garden face? That doesn't take years to sort out. Just look where the sun rises and sets. If, like me, you like catching a few rays.. identify the sun trap bit of the garden and protect it at all costs!! The sun arrived in the back garden about 1.30pm
Otherwise, I'm with the 'don't do too much yet' school of thought. That garden has obviously been a considered and cared for space at some point.. then presumably it got beyond the occupant to keep it up.. Yes the previous Owner passed away
I think I would concentrate on getting the grass cut and the existing borders weeded, before the depths of winter. Good advice , Will do that soon , Also try to identify all shrubs/trees and see which need pruning and when. I can see numerous border perennials which again.. may just need trimming back a bit, or will die back anyway and bounce back next year. I'm not good on tree and plant ID's
Those raised beds need looking at. One against a brick wall of neighbours house? Garage? Is the soil above the DPC? Same with the ones above fences. If there are concrete base panels.. fine.. but otherwise fence panels will rot.
Tree in pic with yellow bucket looks dead. Indeed it is , When I find a saw its coming down , It's not massive There's a climber of some sort on the trunk. Clematis? May or may not be dead. Early flowering Clematis will look dead now but come back next year. OK will look that up
If you want to grow stuff..stick with planting bulbs in containers for now..there may be all kinds already in the beds and borders. I plant tulips and 'fancy' daffs/narcissus in pots around this time of year for early spring colour. Also Anemone De Caen, which are very colourful and great value for money. All cheap as chips from B&Q/Wilko etc.OK on my shopping list
Maybe also identify a small plot for veggies and dig it over before winter sets in, so it can be quickly and easily brought into use next spring. Even that isn't critical. I have been overrun with tomatoes, this year..all container grown in bucket sized, or bigger pots. You could also use grow bags. Only secret is big enough pot/container, regular feeding and watering, and a decent summer. A warm wall to plant against is good. I've also had outdoor cucumbers, container grown, and masses of runner beans from a trench, but they also do well in containers. Radishes and beetroot are easy in a little plot. Carrots I find unpredictable and best grown in containers kept above ground level to discourage Carrot Fly, which can only fly about 18" above ground. Herbs are easy/ I grow coriander every year. I may buy a greenhouse
That red 'patio' makes mine look good...and mine really isn't good. Grim, but could maybe be rescued. I intend sorting that out with cleaner and my Nilfisk jet wash then re grout
Front looks OK. Just needs tidying and depending on your idea of privacy, maybe prune back those shrubs which I assume constitute the front boundary of your plot. The boundry has a wall , The bigger shrubs are outside that wall
I wouldn't worry too much about a rat. We see the odd one along the back fence. We also see squirrels and the occasional Stoat. We also frequently get hawks tearing garden birds to bits on the back grass. 'Nature, red in tooth and claw'..as they say. Better seen than not...
Good luck!!