Lucky you Rainbowwand, having lots of well rotted manure! I have used it (but had to buy it from a local farmer) to build beds on my new allotment. It’s been very successful for growing thus far (first proper growing year). It’s definitely holding moisture in better than my chalk based soil and with the wetted cardboard that I put down first, has stopped all the perennial weeds barring bind weed. You do get weed seeds from the manure and i have used brought compost as a top layer to suppress them in some areas – particularly those that are harder to get to weed under netting or for things like new asparagus that I dont want weeds in at all if I can help it.
Enjoy your new home and garden !