I agree, photo 2 is most likely Vinca Major. Since you pulled it out as a single stem last year and it's come back again. Sounds like there is a network of roots underground. Quite difficult to remove and may even come from another garden/area.
Thanks all , agree re no 2 i suspect periwinkle too , but its kind of on its own, it was a solitary plant last year and solitary seedling this year -- maybe the conditions are not conducive to it being invasive .. would have expected a bit more spread if it had had a mind to it, but I'll keep an eye on it. I quite like the bright foliage in the current grey gloom.
Agree 2 is Vinca major ("Maculata"?) It spreads underground a more sparsely than (the more useful) Vinca minor, and can pop up many feet from the parent plant. I think 1 is Holly, the leaves are just a bit softer when young. Re Sarcoccocca you can trim it almost like box, or judiciously take out stems for a more natural arching look. I remove stems to bring indoors (for the scent) and that takes care of pruning.
"What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbour".
@Loxley thank you so much for that, I'll do that for the sarcococca ( do i do it in spring or doesn't matter ? My sheltered courtyard garden does not usually get deeply frosted so I guess i'll do it in a week or two). re the others I'll let the holly be if it wants to grow for a bit and just be vigilant re the periwinkle. Thanks everyone else also for taking the trouble to reply.
1. Leaves are evergreen, prickly...Holly or Mahonia???? Still very young. Still hard to be sure. Mahonia .. have a compound leaf. A single leaf comprises a stem with many leaflets. see link ie when that leaf drops off, it falls as a stem with many leaflets on it.
@Loxley thank you so much for that, I'll do that for the sarcococca ( do i do it in spring or doesn't matter ?
I am doing it now, just taking flowering stems as they open up. I don't get the benefit of the scent unless I bring them in. (I'm barely using the garden as it's so cold!)
"What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbour".
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Thanks everyone else also for taking the trouble to reply.
Luxembourg
Luxembourg
Still very young.
Still hard to be sure.
Mahonia .. have a compound leaf.
A single leaf comprises a stem with many leaflets. see link
ie when that leaf drops off, it falls as a stem with many leaflets on it.
https://www.google.com/search?q=mahonia+leaf&client=firefox-b-d&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiW9qSylcbuAhV2SRUIHSRcDX4Q_AUoAXoECBYQAw&biw=1280&bih=579
Holly has a branch with simple single leaves that are alternate.
Do watch how it grows and add more pics in a few months