Coarse wood chips, ideal for topping up paths.
Having most of the beds the same size works well. At approximately 1m wide they can be straddled for working, are easily hopped over when moving round the plot, no strain on the lower back when leaning in to reach the middle and hoops and nets for crop protection are interchangeable between beds.
It might seem like a lot of path area but summer foliage from beds either side can soon start to obscure them and because the chippings lie direct on the soil (no weed-proof membrane) the paths in effect become composters, constantly feeding fungi and soil microbes, supplying nutrients for the beds.
