winter sweet [sarcocca I thnk is its proper name , may be wrong] is an evergreen smallish shrub and would probably be fine. euynomous the white /green one does ok in my very shady border so will probably be fine too. so would false laure, acuba though that will need pruning t keep it small.

i'm sure you will get other suggestions too.

Thank you so much for your ideas. We shall head off to the garden centre soon and look at them. I think winter sweet sounds ideal.

Mahonia flowers in winter with scented yellow flowers and will be happy on shaded clay. The gold variegated euonymus will also brighten up your corner.

Sarcococca is a good one,skimmia another and fatsia a good architectural evergreen although again it would need pruning.Depending on how deep the shade is you could look at varieties of rhododendron,hydrangea or camellia.

If, as you say, your soil is alkaline, rhododendron and Camellia will not do well there. If you want a Mahonia, choose M. aquifolium 'Smaragd' - evergreen, with yellow mimosa like flowers, only reaches about 4 feet.

Thank you for taking time and trouble to give me lots of lovely ideas about my shady border shrubs. I have made a note of all the suggestions and shall enjoying looking out for them at the nursery and garden centre.

Thanks also for really kind comments about some of my photos.