Does anyone know anything about gardening?

I'm making a little garden in this rectangle of land in Suffolk. It's very sunny, south aspect, soil is poor, sandy ex agricultural and well draining. It is dry. I'm planting drought tolerant stuff that is attractive to insects.

I've been putting loads of compost and manure into the ground which is helping plants get established. I'm wanting to have borders in a U shape eventually, with something in the middle. That something:

• Just keep mowing it and have a rough vaguely grass area?
  
• Make a proper lawn? (Likely too dry without setting up permenant irrigation which I don't want to do)
  
• Some kind of paving or one of those hipster reclaimed brick herringbone things?
  
• Gravel over geotextile fabric?
  
  

Your thoughts please.