I'd not come across eleagnus, thank you. A mix might work well, but if hawthorn does grow so fast it might be best avoided, I'd not considered that aspect. Pyracantha could be great actually, easy to keep narrow, although it does seem more expensive that other options....
Good old-fashioned privet is worth considering if you can trim it 2 or 3 times a year. It can be kept relatively short and narrow (and 1 to 1.2 m is quite short), tolerates a wide range of conditions and re-grows from old wood if cut back hard.
Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
Anything evergreen is good for birds to shelter in through the winter. I know most people don’t like Laurels but I love my hedge, grown to about 3 - 4ft in depth now and about 6’ high, full of birds all through the year.
Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor.
Lyn - I like laurels a lot, but I think I’d struggle to keep it narrow, which is what I need.
Obelixx - I will definitely investigate pyracantha. The kids have been enjoying the berries we’ve seen out and about recently, so it’d be nice to introduce some to our garden for them!
Just read this. Andy where are you? We use Rosa rugosa in our part of the world, central/southern Scotland, without any trouble at all. I have never had it self seed in the garden whereas Rosa rubra is always popping up. The golf courses use Rosa rugosa or rhodies and azalea
photo and direction it faces may help us, you want it as a windbreak, how high?
Weeds are flowers, too, once you get to know them.” A A Milne
In Denmark rosa rugosa is the number one pest they try to eliminate it's the most expensive invasive weed and there are controls on planting it. I have it and I'm also in the don't go there group, it's not the worst self seeder although it does do it, but unless you can mow both sides to keep it from suckering I wouldn't touch it. Nothing can grow under it and I've never seen anything living in it. in high wind areas like mine it grows to around 8 inches tall, in more sheltered areas I have it up to 1.5m tall.
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Thanks!
Obelixx - I will definitely investigate pyracantha. The kids have been enjoying the berries we’ve seen out and about recently, so it’d be nice to introduce some to our garden for them!
photo and direction it faces may help us, you want it as a windbreak, how high?
A A Milne