Nic - can you get hold of some mulch instead? We have just done some no dig beds.

We layed down some cardboard and newspaper in the area, then covered it in a mound of mulch (we got some pine mulch from the local tree trimmers).
Where the plants went we scooped out big holes, which were then filled with some old sheep poo, mushroom compost and some slow release fertiliser.
The seedlings were put in that, topped up with some more mushroom compost and then pushed the mulch back.
The pumpkin seedlings we put in are doing so well, we are about to do another bed with various zucchinis from some 98c trays we picked up today.