There are some nice Berberis to choose from, and not to be interfered with....

have you tried Berberis thunbergia, it is a pretty hard wearing spiky shrub. It may deter the people satnding on your garden.

if its very dry cant you put cacti out there as long as its a sunny spot ?

I'd go along with spiky shrubs, too! Berberis, great. Pyracantha and Hawthorn are also prickly - and pretty in spring with blossom; berries in autumn. Pyracantha is evergreen, too!

Worthy menton ar sume rose, with lots spikeys.
my favrite HT is Wendy Coussins, but sum Rugosa rose are v.good with gorgus scent.

Astelia would be good groundcover there - drought resistant plant and spiky to boot!

Thanks for these suggestions. I had thought of berberis but it grows great arching stems doesn't it? I wonder if it's too near the pavement. Doesn't pyracantha need support, such as a wall? I'm not sure cacti would survive as it's a bit exposed and windy. I'm just about to try and google astelia, of which I've never heard, and also spiky roses, but I fear it's too windy and cold for them.
Thanks again.

Astelia can be a bit difficult - not reliably hardy, sadly, depending on the area and aspect. It needs a bit of shelter.

No - Pyracantha could be grown as a free-standing shrub - there's one in a garden just up the lane from me.

There are lots of different Berberis, too. I keep mine pruned back - so the stems wouldn't be a problem. There's even a pillar shaped one, as well! B. thunbergii 'Helmond Pillar'. Lovely shape and coloured leaves. Nice and prickly!

OK, thanks! I'm off to the garden centre tomorrow to have a look,, weather permitting.

I'm amazed you've found Astelia can be "difficult" Spritz - this must be regional differences again - here in West London, I find the damn thing increases like nobody's business in an exposed, windy spot.

I hate to be a spoil sport but what if you were trying to controle a livly child as you passed this nasty spike stuff that keep people off the grass and the child fell head first in to it as is their way, personaly I would want to sue the oner,and a headge of any sort is a handy place to stick bottles 'chip papers, sweet rapings and god knows what else, how about a little notice like please keep off the grass, people are not so bad,

It's ok Cliffo,
I'm just looking for something that will grow and take up the space that tends to get trodden on! It doesn't have to be thorny. That's why I tried escallonia and hydrangea but they didn't grow. It seems that berberis and pyracantha might be tougher. I wouldn't want to hurt anyone. As long as they are within my boundary I don't think anyone will sue me. If they could, it would surely be end of all prickly plants and hedges along boundaries.

you could get some different size pots and grow what you want

Thanks, Nosey, it is a thought.

I viset an industral estate which used to be a munitions factory in the first world war, at a time when clinker and ash was handy to fill holes on footpathes when the council develepted it they planted a low growing bush it has been there years and is still no higher than a couple of feet evergreen and the yellow flowers are lovley and last all summer unfortanly I havent a clue what it is called,, and when I moved hear it filled a border which I wanted to put flowers in , and I had to put the jeep in four wheel to drag it out it spreds by a good strong root like scutch only woody roots any one !!

your welcome