If you mean the area shown in your blog, I wouldn't use hydrangea - have a look at Ribes sanguinam - bees love it early in the year (now) when in flower.

oh ok, yes I was thinking of that area. I'll have a look ta

Had a look its quite pretty isn't it?

Its lovely actually, specially in flower when most other flowers are yellow and useful for bees cos it flowers early. Should be pruned back immediately after flowering, nice light green leaves all summer.

Thats's one plant for my 'list' Bamboo. What else would you suggest?

There's another Ribes with yellow, fragrant flowers (all Ribes cope well with most conditions, can I just say, even a fair bit of shade), it's called Ribes odoratum, and there's even an evergreen one that flowers in winter - Ribes laurifolium, gets about 3 feet. Otherwise, for deep shade, Prunus Otto Luyken, Sarcococca varieties, Mahonia aquifolium (3/4 feet, evergreen, yellow mimosa like flowers April)

Wow, Bamboo you certainly know your stuff. Now I can't choose between the Prunus and the Ribes Laurifolium!!!!! Decisions, decisions

I think the Prunus is pretty boring, actually, if you really wanna know, but very useful in deep dark shade... I prefer the Mahonia, at least it has lovely flowers