I have two ilex in the back garden that I wanted to topiarise - I don't seem to have much luck with them either, maybe they need some time to get going. Hence my hesitation to use it. I found that yew works out cheaper than ilex, albeit slightly more expensive than box. But I too had fear of blight, I personally don't like its scent (reminds me of cat wee), and I love yew. If there seems to be evidence that low hedging is possible, then I think I will go for it.
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That suits my OCD only too well, Tetley