It is a variety of Hebe. I would cut it down as option 2 and it will bounce back in summer.

Looks like a Hebe. Some of them may be pruned hard, but others will not shoot from old growth. If it is a Hebe then the roots are not particularly deep or spreading.
There does look to be a Holly growing in amongst it too.

I'd get rid of it... they gives me the hebe-geebies.
Keep the monkey puzzle tree though as monkeys are an endangered species in England now.

There's new growth near the base so it can safely be cut down to just above the new growth and you will get nice young shoots in spring. You might even see some flowers in summer.

Thanks guys for the rapid replies. I'm on it as of now. But I don't remember ever seeing any flowers on it ? Maybe I missed them.

Hebe flowers can be very small Hank. Funguy there is no Monkey Puzzle in that photo.

yea, there is Moongrower - you can just see the tip of one branch to the centre right in the photo.

Seems to me you should take it out - I doubt you'll be able to extract the holly roots without doing so. And yes, it is a Hebe... it may regrow by next summer, but you'll be looking at something fairly unattractive all winter and spring...

Depends if you decide to keep the rest of the hedge and if you can get the holly out without removing the hebe. Hebes often do regenerate but if you want a hebe you might be better getting one you know you like. They do get scraggy as they age. I think the hedge was privet? If so it might look odd with a gap in the middle anyway. I'd have the lot out I think.

ah yes Bamboo I was looking at the close up of the hedge. I'd yank the whole thing out and start with a nice mixed natives hedge... birds will be much happier.

MG. I was just about to ask what on earth a mixed native hedge was when I had the sense to google it so now I won't show myself up ! ? (Not altogether.)
So all I need to ask now is do I want bare rooted plants, 400-600 tall, when is the best time to set them, and I gather they should be set about 1 ft apart ?
And thanks to all for putting up with me again on this subject.

Hi Hank take a look at this site for info:

http://www.hedgesdirect.co.uk/Planting-BareRoot-Instructions.pdf

Obviously you can buy the hedging plants somewhere other than their nursery. 4 or 5 to a metre is about right in spacing terms and often planted as a staggered double line. Once you've removed the hebe hedge and got the ground ready so long as it isn't frozen or waterlogged you can go ahead and plant.

Have looked at the site you mentioned and sent the instructions to myself in an email, thanks. Work continues tomorrow.

Great, good luck with your new hedge.

Just a thought - check the vigour of the ones you choose - ones that want to get tall but are kept clipped (like beech) will eventually compensate by getting very wide and you haven't got a lot of width to play with, and prickly ones ike quickthorn will leave you with a heap of difficult to handle branches after trimming. I can't think what native ones would be small enough for that space. I wonder if pyracantha might be better - still a bit prickly and will
still get wider but its evergreen in a mild winter and has white flowers in spring and red berries that the birds love in autumn, and also makes good cover for them. It makes a very attractive hedge and you can keep it to about four feet if you want to.

Thanks for your input Sue, i guess a bit more research is needed. But first to finish getting the "mixed" hedge out.