neglected trees-2 oaks, cherry and the dreaded leyllandii

Claire, get the weeds out, fork the area over, and plant Japaneses Azaleas , Hydrangeas, Rhododendrons and Camellias. Along with ENGLISH Bluebells and Polyanthus.:thumb:

 

To that list I would add snowdrops, winter aconite, and anemone blanda.

Many years ago my parents lived in Bromley and had six of the Bromley oaks growing at the bottom of the garden. Not much grew there in the summer, as the canopy was very dense - unlike yours where light is much better - but in the early spring before the oaks leafed up - the ground was a mass of blue and white. Sadly my father hated bluebells - and tried to remove them. He should have saved his energy - they persisted what ever he did - and I thoroughly enjoyed them.

Winter aconite is a must for any woodland area - its one of the first things to come into flower in January. Lovely golden cups that cheer up a grey january day.