Grassy, unlevel sandschool maintenance advice please

[HarlequinSeren]

So, my sandschool somewhat resembles a paddock at the moment. Slight exaggeration maybe, but there is quite a lot of grass in it as it hadn't been used for a few years before we came to the yard. It is also quite unlevel in places. This hasnt been too much of a problem til now as I could just avoid the unlevel bits, but now I want to start using the whole thing. Obviously to level it I'll have to get rid of the grass or I'll have tufts and roots left everywhere. What would be the best method of sorting the whole mess out? Would weed killing the grass be a good idea? Or is it a big no-no? (obviously I wouldn't use it for the set time afterwards if I did). Would it be best to disturb the surface with a pallet/gate/home-made levelling device before attempting to get the grass out? OH suggested putting the pigs out on it to eat the grass off but I think that wont work as they'll leave the roots behind and I'll have to find a way of getting them out anyway. Plus there's the fact that the piggies can smell fear and I wouldn't be able to get them off the sand and into their house in order for me to use the school while they're out there (OH was thinking of leaving them out there for a couple of weeks at least)
Thanks in advance for any suggestions

 

[rossiroo]

I had same problem, weeds so high they reached the top rail. we pulled by hand most of the ones that came out easily,(usually tall ones with tap roots) then sprayed the thicker ground spreading ones.It took a few goes with round-up but did the trick. For maintanance we just spray the worst bits (in the corners).To level it we use a pallet with big nails in it behind a ride-on lawnmower as we have no tractor. Works okay for us.