Does it have to be evergreen?
I was thinking of beech
The green leaves would be a lovely foil for the roses

what about laurel? evergreen and limited pruning.

Cotoneaster. Fast growing, flowers that the bees love and then berries for the birds. Makes a good, solid hedge. Only thing it doesn't like is salt so don't plant at the roadside.

Or lonicera Nitida - tiny leaves but evergreen and there is a variegated one called Baggeson's Gold. Or berberis Darwinii, which has racemes of yellow flowers in spring(and also prickles if that would be useful)

Pamg; No it doesn't and I must admit Beech was one of my thoughts, because, correct me if I'm wrong, it maintains its russet leaves in the winter.

SBG; Yes, another one of my thoughts, but will it make a good dense hedge?

Bulbaholic; As it's no where near the road, that would be good, but when do you prune it and how high does it grow? I'd need something at least 5ft.

Steragram; I've looked these two up in my little book but I'm not sure the Lonicera would grow high enough, but Berberis Darwinii is ticking all the boxes. Would pruning in late autumn of early spring be suitable for this shrub?

Sorry to ask so many questions :0)

I removed some privets that were overgrown and hard to manage some years ago. The ones at the back border of my rear garden I replaced with Leylandii and trim this once a year to keep it to a manageable 6 foot high.

I planted Berberis at the sides between my neighbours. I'm not sure of the variety but I think it's called thurgi or something similar... Dark red leaves and occasional yellow berries. It's evergreen, a lovely colour and doesn't need too much attention to keep i9t in trim.

The lonicera will reach five feet in as many years. the berberis is definitely prettier if you have room - the lonicera was in case it had to be kept fairly close clipped and narrow. The berberis (I looked it up for you) will tolerate heavy pruning if needed. Clip immediately after flowering. (Of course you won't get the berries if you do)

Beech is no good if you're on a clay soil, in which case hornbeam will do the same thing.

I wouldn't recommend lonicera nitida. In my experience, anything more than about four feet doesn't hold together very well, and it grows sideways at a rate of knots.

For laurel, I'd recommend a dwarfer variety called 'Otto Luyken' which still reaches five to six feet.

Interesting to read all the answers, especially Andrew's from my point of view - can you come and tell our 40ft beech trees they don't grow on clay? I think they were a hedge that got left, can't believe anyone planted them where they are!! We have a 7ft hedge of lonicera, but it is rampant if not controlled. Ours is not and has dead looking stuff in the middle and is wide, another one of these 'walks' and you find offshoots springing up everywhere, but...have seen some beautifully trimmed ones of these.
Our laurel, planted (not by us) to shield the oil tank is more of a tree now and at least 8ft tall, woody and open inside, haunted only by pigeons!

L nitida baggesens gold struggles here, too cold an windy I thing, bare patches and not above knee height, I,ve seen much better in sheltered spots.
I like Thuja better than Leylandii but still make big wide trees
The thing with berberis, like hawthorn is someone has to pick up the cuttings..........

Hope I don't sound too defeatest Waddy, just thinking through the downsides........

We had a cotoneaster hedge at three feet high but I have seen them mush taller than this. I used to prune it whenever I felt like it but think that late autumn/winter is the 'proper' time.

Oh you are a lovely lot, thank you so much for all your advice!
I'm leaning towards either Beech or Berberis at the moment. Another idea I had after reading all your comments was perhaps a mixed hedge, but making sure they all need pruning at the same time. :/ Decisions, decisions.
I'll let you know how I get on. Once again thanks everyone!

Outside my kitchen window there used to be an elm sucker hedge....(the elm died as did the hedge)
I had added to the mixed shrubs in front of it, they are all thriving....and look better from the neighbours as it gets more sun!

It starts near the gate with Mahonia charity, then Kolkwitzia amabilis, then Weigela josephs coat, um....an old holly tree....well two as one is a self setter, a choisya ternata, an old hardy fuschia, the forsythia, rose canary bird oh and a hydrangea at the end
I suppose its three cars long, they scramble together, living in the country the nice man with the flail hedger tops and sides it....all except the hollies....I tie red ribbons on them, and the hydrangea which is lower anyway!

Its fun and the birds love it as the hanging pole is amongst the hydrangea

You could consider a fence or a brick wall... No trimming needed, simples. LOL

Seriously though, my neighbour has a variegated ivy growing on the other side of my Berberis and it tends to grow into it and come through. I usually cut it back but I might leave it and see what it looks like with a bit of colour contrast... The lighter leaves of the ivy against the darker Berberis.

Myron, you've put a jinks on me! Seriously, I decided to have a word with my neighbour, on the other side of the hedge, to see if she had any preferences...after all she'll be seeing it too. Unfortunately, she's made it quite clear she won't be cutting the hedge at anytime, on her side (partly why the present hedge is in such a mess) and won't be happy for me to nip round and cut it for her! So, Myron, it looks like it's going to have to be a fence after all. I shall of course be growing things up it on my side, and she can do what the hell she likes, silly woman.

Some people don't seem to understand that hedges need trimming....well to stay a hedge! Or it will in many cases end up a row of trees, bare at the bottom....

Just think of all those lovely climbers on your new fence. :0))

If you go for a fence will you be on the West side or the East? Makes a difference what you plant there. Honeysuckle is nice on a west on as you get the scent in the evening.

Steragram ; I already have a Clematis growing through and over the existing hedge, which I hope to keep. I still fancy the idea of a pink rambling rose as well, but not sure which one, as I've no real experience with roses.
I also have a Honeysuckle 'Copper Beauty' growing up an obelisk in my front garden, just about to come into flower.

Pamg; You are so right. It's a shame really as I think a hedge would have looked far more esthetically pleasing..ah, well I'm now planning what style of fence I'll have and like you say..thinking about what to grow up it :)

If you have the time and energy, can I suggest you paint any new fence with green woodstain - it's a much more sympathetic colour to set off any plants or climbers growing in front of it

Ha,Ha! I'm well in front of you there Andrew, been pricing up suitable preservative in Forest Green, or similar. Looks like Ronseal has the edge at the moment from B&Q. I will post before, during and after pics when the work starts...so keep watching lol!