Need help identifying plants

LessImpecunious

arbrighton wrote: »

If possible, please don't get rid of the ivy, it's good for birds (berries and nesting) as well as bees. Reduce it by all means but please try to keep a patch.

Seconded! see http://www.sussex.ac.uk/broadcast/read/19003

Mojisola

arbrighton wrote: »

If possible, please don't get rid of the ivy, it's good for birds (berries and nesting) as well as bees. Reduce it by all means but please try to keep a patch.

Another vote to keep the ivy.

Ivy has two life stages - juvenile when it climbs and spreads; mature when the leaf shape changes and the plant produces flowers and fruits.

If you take cuttings from the mature stage of the ivy, you get all the benefits for wildlife with none of the invasive problems. I have a couple of these (as well as a wall of ivy) - they only reach about 1m high and are easily kept in shape if needed.

Ivy flowers at the end of year when there is very little nectar and fruits at the end of the winter when berries are scarce. The blackbirds are just starting to come to my ivy daily to check the state of the berries - they will soon be ready for the birds.

Justagardener

An interesting collection.
1) two plants...the top right shrub is Pieris japonica and the bottom left is a cotoneaster.
2) Genista / french broom
3) Hellebore..Helleborus foetidus
4) common Ivy
Hope this helps..enjoy your new garden