Starting a patch from scratch

I'm another one picking bits of plastic from broken down weed membrane out of my garden - and that is just what has gone under paths and gravel, but still after a decade it has started to distintegrate.
Cardboard and manure or compost would be my way forward, too. If you have time/energy space you could lift the turves, stack and make loam if you think you might need soil elsewhere, but it's probably best just broken down in situe.
I am a fan of grass paths, I like the look, they have lots of flowers in them (I know, weeds!) but i do have the time to cut them. If starting today I probably would just use chippings for paths!