What tree(s) could I put in my garden to replace large laurel..?

Magnolia grandiflora ,Ilex aquifolium,Paulownia tomentosa,Catalpa bignioides,some bambou

I would suggest Eucalyptus Gunnii.

maybe a couple of flaxes red and green for a ground filler with perhaps a verigated acer tree behind

gold bamboo

My first thought was Eucalyptus gunnii as advised by Doctorbob1. You could also use Eleagnus pungens plain or golden variegated.

sounds good

Acacia Delbata is good for a top heavy canopy, you can even cut off the lower branched once it has reached a good height. It is evergreen and has gorgeous yellow flowers. Should also fair pretty well in Kent as well. I would only use 1 tree with a good canopy rather than 3 as I don't think you have enough space in this corner for more than 1.

Luma appiculata - it's the myrtle family (small evergreen leaves, fragrant white flowers in late summer). As it grows taller, prune away the lower growth to expose the cinnamon coloured bark. Mine has reached about twenty feet in 16 years. I posted a picture earlier in the summer (check out under the Garden tag on my page)

did you find anything ?

Thanks for all the advice... I like the idea of the Eucalyptus Gunnii, as it's evergreen. Question though... would it fill out enough in the summer to provide good cover from prying eyes in the house behind?

Acacia would be a big no/no as we both have hayfever!

We would also want it to be relatively fast growing so that within 3 years the tree was filling the area where the house behind can see our garden.

Hi Kentgrower,
You should be able to purchase good size trees at about £10.00 each. Plant 3ft. apart but remember to have a stake for each one, taller than your trees i.e. 5ft. needs a 6ft. plus stake but they don't need to be very thick. Bamboo canes will serve the purpose.
By the end of the summer they may well have put on 3ft. use blood, fish and bone mixed with compost when planting. In July feed with a strong solution of Tomarite once a week for a month.
Good Luck.

Eucalyptus resent root disturbance so you may be better off buying a lightly smaller specimen. They grow very quickly so will soon block out the neighbour's house

You have to be kidding! - Eucalyptus gunnii, not really suitable for the smaller garden, if that is what you have, unless cut back every year to keep it shrub like.

here here blue

I agree that Eucalyptus gunnii can out grow any garden no matter how big or small, however there are more species of Gum tree out there. I have just bought Eucalyptus pauciflora niphophila, Snow Gum it is a small evergreen tree with a patchwork trunk of green, grey and cream. It is hardy. and good in any soil, except shallow chalk, in sun or part shade. The mature height is allegedly 5m, so not so much of a thug as gunnii. The leaves are more rounded and larger than most eucalyptus, it would be my choice for your corner. I urge you to only buy one tree as you may regret putting in more than one. I got my Eucalyptus pauciflora niphophila, Snow Gum from The Duchy of Cornwall Nurseries, they provide them in different sizes. The one negative is that they don't grow as quickly as Eucalyptus gunnii, but trees that grow too quickly ring alarm bells for me, I imagine things like elder and Rhus which grow quickly but also take over your garden. Do some research on the internet for small evergreen trees, I'm sure you'll find something which floats your boat.

that sounds good andrea