How about vinca minor, lesser periwinkle, as long as you can stop it from spreading.

Creeping jenny (and boy, does she creep!)

Lol indeed Andrew

how about Mitella, it is a smallish creeping plant that looks abit like a small Telima. limey green leaves in my alkaline soil.
I grow it, look at it on my plant profile it lives happily in a very, damp shady area .

I would go with vinca minor, lesser periwinkle: I would probably add a few anenome nemorosa for good measure.

We grow a couple of reall 'ground huggers' that might fit the bill.
Firstly, Cotoneaster congesta: this makes a green 'film' like covering over the ground, rocks or whatever. One of ours has spread itself over a well used path and is regularly walked on - with no ill effect.
The second is Azorella trifurcata, a South American native that speads at a moderate rate and forms a hard, green surface. It does not mind being walked on and, where it gets kicked, forms low hummocks. http://www.nzplantpics.com/pics_ground_cover/azorella_trifurcata_02.jpg
Personally, I would keep well away from any periwinkle.

Thank you all for your suggestions - I'll look into them all!
As the area is not going the large - I'm thinking that I don't want anything too invasive.
MG - periwinkle is a no no - had bother with that in an old garden!
Andrew - creeping jenny has the affect I want to create but have been put of by comments I have read on here :)
SBG, having never heard of mitella, I've looked it up and that might do the job - thanks
Fractal - thanks for your input - as I said above, once bitten twice shy re vince - I've Anemone nemrose elsewhere in the garden and I think they might be a bit tall for the effect I'm trying to create.
BH - I think the cotoneaster might be a bit too shruby for the effect - but wow the Azorella looks amazing!!! How will it cope with a bit of shade? All the website I've looked at said it preferes full sun.

We have two patches in the sun and they romp away, but are easily controlled. I put some in a very shady spot a few years ago and it seems to be 'happy ', but growing much more slowley. This cotoneaster is not shrubby at all. The only time it gets more than a couple of inches off the ground is when it climbs over a rock that is more than two inches high!

Ah right thanks B. I'll look into those suggestions and I'm sure that Azorella is going to find a home some where in the garden either way :))

Another possibility is chrysosplenium davidianum (if you can find a supplier). Loves cool, damp shade

I have always found the V.minor to be easily controlable and not at all vigourous. I would concede that anyones previous experience to the contrary would take precedence.

The cotoneaster is a splendid idea.

The other obvious idea - especially with Acers in mind - would be Moss.

What about one of the very low growing Junipers ? J. Horizontalis for example

Andrew thanks for your suggestion. It also looks like an option. Although I can only source C. macrophyllum locally. I'll look into it next time I'm there.
Fractal moss was the thought I had in my head originally but spoke myself out of it for some reason:)
Andy. I thought Juniper preferred sunny sires but another I can add to the list of choices.
Once again thank you all very much.