there not evergreens im afraid but a couple of tree furns and perhaps a water feacture or sculpture or garden orniment . maybe a seat and a little pagoda and make it a real feacture .if they planted them latley you can get them to take them out as you need planning permission for these thugs but that would mean falling out perhaps with your neighbers which mite not be good.you could have a rockery and a pond so any plants are a distance from the trees perhaps.you could also get some quite big trees that are as tall and dig out a bigger hole than there root ball and put good compost in it and defuse the look of the trees behind.i hope ive helped take cae bye for now .

Nothing is going to grow happily where a leylandii hedge is, the soil will be totally impoverished. You say they are considerate and keep it clipped but it looks to be well over 6 foot which is what most councils all you to grow a boundary hedge to. Rockery plants will not survive in total shade, you will need to consider things that are totally shade loving and probably build a raised bed a couple of feet in height filled with good soil and compost.

You appear to have a tree growing there yourself, which would contribute hugely to the dryness of the area. If Aucuba couldn't cope, then the only things I can think of which might are Ruscus and Hypericum calycinum, though the latter will end up working its way forwards and may well become a nuisance. Otherwise, hedera helix might work, one of the smaller ones, but obviously, you'd need to monitor its spread and keep it in check.

Symphytum would grwo there - it's not tall, though, but does have rather pretty flowers. Watch out for it spreading...there are several different varieties, one with variegated leaves.

The right hand boundary of my garden, is the bottom of the garden for eight houses one of the eight houses planted six Leylandii so you can imagine and they are less considerate, they are about 30 ft now, the only shrub that thrives beneath them is Viburnum tinus hope this helps!

Thank you all so much, yes the Leylandii are quit tall about 15 feet to be exact! But my neighbours are so very lovely and are going through troubled times at the moment. So wouldn't want to do or say anything to upset them.

I quite like the idea of a water feature of some sort and or a statue. In fact I have a dear little statue which is in another part of the garden. I think I shall move her to this new location. I also have a small cast iron gate I don't know what to do with. I could put that against the fence, even put a mirror behind it to reflect some light back. and place 'Aurea',( name of statue), in front of that. The name for the statue came about from me saying....shall I put her here or here!

Happy gardening everyone.

Sounds good Susie - how about a zen garden?

im glad i was of some help susie . you could use the mirror ,statue idea on a little pagoda and have the gate installed in front of it as part of the pagoda maybe .what ever you do is going to stick into the garden so you can do some planting a little way of from the trees . you could have a round pond with an island using a pond liner . also the roots wont hurt a liner . then put your statue in the middle with the mirror behind with the gate and also grow plants in the feacture . i can see it now the green leylandi would be a benefit then and be a nice dark backdrop . just make sure if you do this to leave room for trimming the leylandi . good luck im sure it will look lovley .